YBREAK

SERIES

THE ADVENTURES OF YOUR

SABBATH SCHOOL LESSONS

Arnold V. Wallenkampf

In early August of 1975 I was teaching an extension class of the Seventh-day

Adventist Seminary (Far East) at Seoul, Korea, for the workers in the Korean

Union. My subject was the Holy Spirit. I had brought my manuscript for this Sab-

bath School quarterly with me, inasmuch as it contained much material that I

could use in teaching that course.

Returning from a country medical clinic with Dr. and Mrs. Robson Newbold and

some nurses near midnight, I entered my temporary home and stepped right into

the arms of a man. As we wrestled in the dark entryway, I cried for help. Soon a

second man came from inside the house. Somehow I got away and ran outside, still

calling for help, hoping that Dr. Newbold next door would hear and come. But the

two men got out the front door and ran away.

Now for the first time I noticed some pain in my left shoulder. Dr. Newbold, finally

coming to my rescue, put his hand on my shoulder and declared that my left clavicle

was broken. He took me to the Seoul Adventist Hospital and had my shoulder

X-rayed. By now the bone was completely broken and its two broken ends were over-

lapping.

Before departing for the hospital we had looked through my house to see what

the "slicky boys," as home burglars are called by the English-speaking people in the

Orient, had done in the house. In the study they had dumped out the contents of a

cardboard box and had placed the electric typewriter in it, ready to be carried out.

I had disrupted their scheme. In their hurry to get away, they took nothing but the

briefcase that contained my notes on the Holy Spirit. On the way out to the

clinic, I had also carried my camera and two extra

lenses in my briefcase. But on my

return I had them in my hand with the briefcase. During the "wrestling match"

in the darkness, the briefcase, camera, and lenses fell to the floor and were kicked to

to the side with my glasses. We now found the camera, lenses, and glasses—

unharmed.

As I woke up in my hospital bed the next morning, I thought of both my

class that would resume after my surgery and of the Sabbath School quarterly

that I would have to finish within the next few months. The deadline for the latter

was year-end. And now the "slicky boys" had stolen the only copy of my notes for

both the class lectures and the Sabbath School lessons on the subject of the

Holy Spirit. I chose not to worry about it at that time, however, but I reminded

God that I was working for Him and that soon I would need some help.

The next morning after surgery, a teacher from Korean Union College came and

told me that my briefcase had been found. A man jogging had seen it lying in an alley

a few miles from the college. Being afraid to touch it for fear it might contain a

bomb, he had called the police who opened it. From the class cards the police

learned that it must belong to someone at the college. Not a page of my notes

was missing.

One of my friends suggested that Satan hated this study on the Holy Spirit and did

not want it taught or published. When the manuscript finally reached the General

Conference Sabbath School Department, nearly all of the wrappings were gone, and

it was held together only by a string. The recipients wondered how it ever

reached its destination in that condition. God still watches over His Word.

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

(XI

6:adeue ....0Ave;m

iyA

01,4h

lieedquetters: 800 Thomson Rost Singpore 11

Telephone 531155 • Cable: 'FAPEPSr • Telex: FEDEX 8521991

ear Sabbath School Members Around The World:

he Far Eastern Division wishes to thank each of you for your support by Sabbath School

fferings each Sabbath. A special thanks is given for the very generous overflow offer-

ngs on past thirteenth Sabbaths. There are many monuments throughout the Far East to

hese overflow offerings. This quarter the Far Eastern Division is to be the recipient

f the Special Projects Offering.

he needs in our field are many. These are not all money needs. We need more workers

3r the harvest that is waiting to be garnered in. One of the greatest needs is for

uildings to use for Sabbath Schools and worship services. Several hundred jungle

hapels and lamb shelters have been built to help fill this need.

he following four projects will benefit from the Thirteenth Sabbath Special Projects

ffering this quarter:

1. Jungle chapels, lamb shelters and village churches. The land and labor to

uild jungle chapels and lamb shelters are the responsibility of the local members.

he Thirteenth Sabbath Special Projects Offering will furnish the building material.

a recent meeting with union officers, it was reported that the field currently

eeds 2,200 such buildings.

2. Training Center, Korea. This center will coordinate the training of workers

both vocational and lay work. Lay leaders will be used in places where there are

of enough pastors. New buildings are needed for the vocational school and dormitories.

Goshen Adventist Secondary School, church/auditorium. A church auditorium

s greatly needed. Annual camp meetings are held at this school, but have very inAde-

uate facilities.

Calbayog Clinic, Samar, Philippines. This clinic

was

opened in a place

here the gospel message seemed to make very little impact. It was opened in rented

uarters which now are much too small. A new building is an urgent need.

make these projects a reality we are inviting Sabbath School members around the

orld to bring a special offering to the Lord for this Thirteenth Sabbath. The gospel

essage going to all the world depends upon the liberality of God's people. We praise

he Lord for His wonderful and generous family.

ours in Christ's Service,

almer G. Wick

ssistant Secretary

AR EASTERN DIVISION

1—A.Q.-4-78

A book especially for

this quarter's lessons!

"New by the Spirit" by Arnold V. Wallenkampf

Have you ever wondered whether

you as a Christian have been bap-

tized by the Holy Spirit? Do you have

one or more gifts of the Spirit? And

what about the fruit of the Spirit? Is

regeneration through the Spirit

characterized by an instantaneous

change of heart?

The above are only a few among

many questions people often ask—

questions which deserve a forth-

right answer. And at last the an-

swers are given in plain terms that

everyone can understand.

In writing this book to accompany

the Sabbath School lessons the

author has made a fine contribution

to church literature on the subject of

the Holy Spirit.

Available from your Adventist

Book Center for $3.95. Please add 40

cents for the first book, 20 cents each

additional copy for postage and

handling. By mail: ABC Mailing Ser-

vice, Box 37485 (13305 "C" Street),

Omaha, NE 68137. In Canada: Box

398 (1156 King St., E), Oshawa, On-

tario L1H 7L5

Brought to you by Pacific Press

Prices slightly higher in Canada.

DAYBREAK

SERIES

Adult Sabbath School Lessons/No. 334/October-December, 1978

Contnl

1. The Personality and Divinity of the Holy Spirit

2. The Holy Spirit Symbolized in Scripture

3. Jesus and the Holy Spirit

4. The Promise of the Holy Spirit

5. The Promise Fulfilled

6. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

7. Gifts of the Holy Spirit

8. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

9. The Christian's Guide

10. Life Through the Holy Spirit

11. The Restorer of the Image of God In Man

12. The Sin Against the Holy Spirit

13. A Spirit-Directed People

The Adult Sabbath School Lessons are prepared by the Sabbath School Department

of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The preparation of the lessons

is directed by a worldwide Sabbath School Lesson Committee, the members of which

serve as consulting editors.

Editorial Office: 6840 Eastern Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20012

Lesson Author: Arnold V. Wallenkampf

Editor: W. Richard Lesher

Editorial Secretary: Florence L. Wetmore

Circulation Manager: Arthur R. Mazat

Art and Design: Pacific Press

Scripture references other than from the King James Version quoted by permission in this quarterly are as

follows:

Jerusalem. From The

Jerusalem Bible,

Co., Inc. Used by permission of the publishers.

NEB. From The New

English Bible,

Syndics of the Cambridge University Press 1961 and 1970. Used by permission of Cambridge University Press,

New York City.

RSV. From the

Revised Standard Version Bible,

Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and used by

permission.

TEV. From the

Today's English Version

Society. Used by permission.

Braille lessons available. See page 112.

Adult Sabbath School Lessons (standard edition). Published quarterly by Pacific

Press Publishing Association, 1350 Villa Street, Mountain View, California 94042,

U.S.A. One year subscription in U.S.A., $1.80; single copy, 45 cents. One year sub-

scription to countries outside U.S.A., $2.40; single copy, 60 cents. All prices at U.S.A.

exchange. Second-class postage paid at Mountain View, California 94042, U.S.A.

When a change of address is desired, please send both old and new addresses.

Having a

power shortage?

Plug into real power—God's Word.

Only as we have a living connection with God

will we be able to remain calm and stable in

these days of perplexity and confusion.

A daily study of His Word will keep the power

flowing.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

Introduction

The Holy Spirit—the Third Person of the Godhead—is often forgotten and ignored

even by Christians. Some Christians frequently speak of the Father and the Son, but

seldom of the Holy Spirit. We pray to the Father in the name of the Son, but seem to

forget that it is the Holy Spirit that intercedes for us with "groanings which cannot be

uttered."

One additional factor makes it imperative that we study about the Spirit at this time.

Other Christians speak much about the Spirit today. There is a current interest in

charismatics or the spectacular gifts of the Spirit. But talk about, and an alleged

devotion to, the Spirit do not necessarily imply that obedience or homage is rendered

to the Spirit, or that we are really acquainted with Him as He speaks to us through the

Scriptures.

The study of the Spirit is of highest importance. Our eternal salvation is closely

related to an experimental knowledge or a close personal acquaintance with and

obedience to the biddings of the Spirit.

The Bible mentions the Holy Spirit more than 300 times—over 100 times in the Old

Testament and over 200 times in the New Testament. It was the Spirit who inspired the

writers of the Scriptures. (See 2 Peter 1:21.) When the Spirit speaks today, He will

therefore of necessity speak in accordance with His own inspired messages given

through the prophets and apostles of the past; anything not in conformity with the

historical revelation, namely the Bible, must therefore obviously emanate from some

other source or some other spirit than God's Spirit.

These lessons will present the biblical picture of the Spirit. But the emphasis will

not be placed on doctrine per se. It is all too possible for us to count the beads of

systematic theology without ever receiving the breath of life. Because of this we will

here attempt to present the Spirit as God's regenerating agent who alone can breathe

upon us the vivifying breath of God. It is this kind of experience that prevents us from

suffocating under the presentation of dogmatic truth. This revival experience is

especially important for the church today, since "the dispensation in which we are

now living is to be, to those that ask, the dispensation of the Holy Spirit."—

Testimonies to Ministers,

p. 511.

Therefore, the ultimate purpose of this quarter's study is to bring every student into

a right relationship to the Holy Spirit in order that He may be a mighty vivifying power

in our lives.

Please note also that it is only through the Spirit that we can hold personal

communion with God. As the divine revelation, the Bible, was given through the

Spirit, so it can only be understood through the personal illumination of the Spirit.

As a people, Seventh-day Adventists should be most interested in studying about

and becoming personally acquainted with the Spirit. We do not believe only in

Christ's death for our sins, but also in His ongoing intercession for us in the heavenly

sanctuary; and only the Spirit can apply the results of that intercession to our lives in

anticipation of Christ's return in glory.

The Spirit is God's means of reaching men in sin. His workings or movements are as

unchartable as the path of the wind. But in mysterious ways He touches men, even

those steeped in sin like the persecutor Saul on the Damascus road. In the same way

that Saul the persecutor became Paul the committed apostle, many other dramatic

changes have been witnessed in the lives of the vilest of sinners. For instance, the

prevaricating, swindling, and profligate divinity student George Muller became a

great man of faith, the noted orphanage operator of Bristol fame.

There is hope of salvation for even the worst sinner as long as he does not steel his

heart against the Spirit's pleadings. Certainly this same Holy Spirit can bring new life

and power into the Adventist Church du ring'this quarter as we open our hearts to His

influence.

1/The Perlman

Rarity

and Divinity of

the Holy Spirit

LESSON 1 October 1-7

"The world cannot receive [the

Spirit of truth], because it seeth him

not, neither knoweth him: but ye

know him; for he dwelleth with you,

and shall be in you" (John 14:17).

In order to understand the work of

the Spirit and to find a right

relationship to Him, it is essential that

we really know Him. This knowledge is

immeasurably practical. Anyone who

claims to know God the Father, and

God the Son, but has not achieved an

understanding of God the Holy Spirit

cannot really know the Father and the

Son either, because it is the Spirit who

reveals Them.

Some may maintain that it does not

matter whether one knows the Spirit

as a person or as a mere influence. But

if the Spirit is a mere influence or a

power, we may try to obtain it or get

more of it; we may desire the Spirit in

order to use it. If that is the case, we

display attitudes similar to the pagans

with their belief in spirit powers. There

are also those who are filled with pride

because they believe they have special

manifestations of the Spirit and regard

others who do not make such claims as

second-rate Christians. How can a

human being make such a judgment?

Since the Holy Spirit is the Third

Person of the Godhead, He is entitled

to our worship. Thus it becomes

important that we surrender to Him, as

to a person, and in an attitude of love

and confidence be directed by Him.

Not knowing the Spirit as a divine

person is a prolific source of error,

misconception, sickly enthusiasm,

false zeal, and fanaticism.

In a formal way we may all ascribe

personality to the Spirit, as we sing

"Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,"

or when we sing the words of the

Gloria Patri: "Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son, and to the Holy

Ghost." But theoretical knowledge is

not sufficient. What matters is how I

think of the Spirit, and how I relate to

Him in my daily life and personal

decision making. Do I act, as if He is a

person

who can be constantly at my

side, guiding me in my thinking,

enabling me to reach right

conclusions and make the most valid

decisions? Do I believe I may have a

constant, divine Guide and'Helper at

my side?

'Provision is made by God Himself

for every soul that turns to the Lord, to

receive His immediate cooperation.

The Holy Spirit becomes His

efficiency."—My

Life Today,

p. 47.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

The Personality of the Holy Spirit

(Rom. 8:27; 1 Cor. 2:11; 12:11)

Evidences of the Spirit's Personality

(Rom. 8:26)

The Spirit of God at Creation

(Gen. 1:1, 2)

The Triune God

(Matt. 28:19)

The Spirit as God

(Acts 5:3, 4)

The Divine Ambassador

(Eph. 4:4-6)

The Personality and Divinity

of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 1



❑

Sunday

October 1



Part 1



"He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of

THE PERSONALITY the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints ac-

OF THE cording to the will of God" (Rom. 8:27).



HOLY SPIRIT



"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit

of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no

man, but the Spirit of God" (1 Cor. 2:11).

"All these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing

to every man severally as he will" (1 Cor. 12:11).

(Compare Isa. 40:13.)

Corporeality, or a physically alive body, does not necessarily

constitute a person. An individual whose brain has ceased to

function is still a body, but he is no longer a person. The essence

of a personality is mind with knowledge and will. The references

above indicate that the Holy Spirit is a person. He has a mind

capable of both knowledge and volition.

The Spirit is thus not to be used by us according to our wills;

but, rather, He is to take possession of us and use us as He wills.

Instead of thinking of Him as a divine power that we should try to

get hold of or use, we must recognize that He is a divine person

who desires to direct us and use us according to His will.

In speaking to the students at Avondale College in 1899 Ellen

G. White emphasized the personhood of the Spirit as she said:

"We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person

as God is a person, is walking through these grounds."—

Evangelism,

p. 616.

How is the personality of the Spirit emphasized in both the

Old and the New Testament? isa. 63:10, RSV; Eph. 4:30.

In these two texts the Spirit is presented as grieving or feeling

sorry. Grief is a love word. Only a person who loves can be

grieved. An influence cannot be grieved. But the Holy Spirit can.



THINK IT THROUGH



How do I conceive of the Spirit? Do I relate to Him as a

person who is interested in me?

"The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear

witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the chil-

dren of God. He must also be a divine person, else He could not

search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. 'For

what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man

which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but

the Spirit of God.'

"—Evangelism,

p. 617.



FURTHER STUDY



Evangelism,

pp. 615-617.

The Personality and Divinity

of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 1



❑

Monday

October 2



Part 2



"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know

EVIDENCES OF not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit Itself

THE SPIRIT'S maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be

PERSONALITY uttered" (Rom. 8:26).

The Spirit intercedes for us because He loves us. Only a

person can love, and the Spirit does love us just as much as do

the Father and the Son. We owe our salvation to the Spirit as

well as to the Father and the Son. Because of the love of the

Spirit, and His willingness to come down here and work out in

us the salvation wrought for us potentially by Jesus on the

cross, we can become a new creation.

What evidences of personality does Nehemiah attribute to

the Spirit? Neh. 9:20, 30.

In these Old Testament passages both goodness and intelli-

gence are ascribed to the Spirit as a person.

How did Jesus refer to the Spirit? John 15:26; 16:13, 14.

Although the word "Spirit" is a neuter noun in the Greek, the

Gospel writers refer to Him by using the masculine pronoun

ekeinos—"he."

The Spirit refers to Himself by using the pro-

noun for the first person in Acts 13:2—"me." Thus it is appro-

priate to use "he" when speaking of the Spirit. The neuter

gender for the Spirit, both in the original Greek and in English,

has undoubtedly contributed to the popular use of "it" as have

the symbols or emblems used in the Bible to present His nature

and operations—fire, wind, oil, seal, and others.

Since the Spirit loves us in the same way as do the Father

and the Son, what does He do jointly with Them? Rev. 22:17.

The triune Godhead is united in the plan of salvation. All three

extend the call to salvation to you and me. This demonstrates

both the deity and the equality of all three.

"The Godhead was stirred with pity for the race, and the

Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit gave Themselves to the

working out of the plan of redemption."—Counsels

on Health,

p. 222.

Since the Spirit is one of the Persons of the Godhead, have

you ever considered thanking Him for His great love for you?

We pray to the Father in the Son's name. How is the Holy Spirit

related to our prayers?

"The Holy Spirit is not a mere spirit—a creature, for example,

or something apart from God and yet given to man by Him, or

merely the work of God which He perfoms in our hearts—but

that He is a Spirit who Himself is God in essence."—Luther's

sermon on John 15:26-27 in

Luther's Works

(Saint Louis, Mo.:

Concordia Publishing House, 1964) vol. 24, p. 297. Used by

permission.



FURTHER STUDY



SDA Bible Commentary,

vol. 6, pp. 1052, 1053.

2-A.Q.-4-78

THINK IT THROUGH

The Personality and Divinity

of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 1



❑

Tuesday

October 3



Part 3



"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

THE SPIRIT OF And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was

GOD AT CREATION upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon

the face of the waters" (Gen. 1:1, 2).

The Bible was written for man in sin—not for unfallen angels

or the inhabitants of other worlds. But even before the entrance

of sin into this world the Spirit is introduced as the active agent

in Creation.

All the Three Persons in the Trinity were united in the work of

Creation. What the members of the Godhead do, They do to-

gether as a unit, although Their particular activities or tasks may

be different.

What did God design as the earthly dwelling place of the

Spirit even before the entrance of sin? 1 Cor. 6:19.

"Nor, indeed, does Scripture in speaking of Him [the Spirit]

refrain from the designation 'God.' For Paul concludes that we

are the temple of God from the fact that his Spirit dwells in us....

The apostle himself sometimes writes that 'we are God's tem-

ple,' at other times in the same sense, 'the temple of the Holy

Spirit."—John Calvin,

Institutes of the Christian Religion,

13:15 (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960), pp. 131, 132.

Used by permission.

"From eternal ages it was God's purpose that every created

being, from the bright and holy seraph to man, should be a

temple for the indwelling of the Creator. Because of sin, human-

ity ceased to be a temple for God. Darkened and defiled by evil,

the heart of man no longer revealed the glory of the Divine One.

But by the incarnation of the Son of God, the purpose of Heaven

is fulfilled. God dwells in humanity, and through saving grace

the heart of man becomes again His temple. God designed that

the temple at Jerusalem should be a continual witness to the

high destiny open to every soul. But the Jews had not under-

stood the significance of the building they regarded with so

much pride. They did not yield themselves as holy temples for

the Divine Spirit."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 161.



THINK IT THROUGH



How can I personally respond to the Spirit's desire to dwell

In my life during this dispensation of sin?

"Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for His

guidance and grace, is the Spirit given. The power of God awaits

their demand and reception. This promised blessing, claimed

by faith, brings all other blessings in its train."—My

Life Today,

p. 47.



FURTHER STUDY



Counsels to Teachers,

p. 530;

SDA Bible Commentary, vol.

p. 209.

The Personality and Divinity

of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 1



❑

Wednesday

October 4



Part 4



"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them In



THE



the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost"

TRIUNE GOD (Matt. 28:19).

Upon baptism the believer symbolically enters into, or be-

comes a member of, the heavenly family. The believer not only

becomes a son or daughter of God but a brother or sister of

Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit becomes a constant compan-

ion and guide. These three have adopted the believer as Their

own and will do everything Omnipotence can do to guide and

assist in the Christian walk.

"The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the three holy

dignitaries of heaven, have declared that they will strengthen

men to overcome the powers of darkness. All the facilities of

heaven are pledged to those who by their baptismal vows have

entered into a covenant with God."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible Commentary,

vol. 5, p. 1110.

What persons of the Godhead are named In the apostolic

benediction? 2 Cor. 13:14.

"Together with Matt. 28:19 this verse provides the most com-

plete and explicit summary of the doctrine of the Trinity."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

vol. 6, p. 928.

Christians have often been, and still are, accused by both

Jews and Muslims of being polytheists, or worshipers of more

than one God. As Christians we admit there are three persons in

the Godhead, but "They are one in purpose, in mind, in charac-

ter, but not in person."—The

Ministry of Healing,

p. 422. The

Christian religion is not a belief in tritheism—belief in three

separate gods—but belief in one God—a trinity.

How is God presented by Moses in Deuteronomy 6:4?

"Our God" in the text could justly be translated "our Gods."

Even with their intense monotheism the Jews still used a plural

name for God. Rather than attribute this usage to "the pluralis

majestatis," or the plural of majesty, Moses used the plural

name for God, because there is a plurality of persons in the

Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (See Gen.

1:26.)



THINK IT THROUGH



Is there a danger in attempting to explain scientifically or

theoretically the position and work of the Holy Spirit In the

Godhead? If so, what Is it?

"The worldly-wise have attempted to explain upon scientific

principles the influence of the Spirit of God upon the heart. The

least advance in this direction will lead the soul into the mazes

of skepticism."—Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 585.



FURTHER STUDY



Testimonies,

vol. 4, pp. 585, 586.



The Personality and Divinity

of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 1



❑

Thursday

October 5

Part 5



"Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie

THE SPIRIT to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the

AS GOD land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it

was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hest thou con-

ceived this thing in thine heart? thou hest not lied unto men,

but unto God" (Acts

5:3, 4).

In these two verses the Holy Ghost and God are used inter-

changeably. "This suggests the unity that exists between the

Spirit and the Father."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

vol. 6, p. 177.

When the apostle Paul speaks about spiritual gifts, whom

does he say is dispensing these divine gifts? 1 Cor. 12:4-11,

28.

First Corinthians 12, as well as chapters 13 and 14, speaks of

divine gifts or heavenly endowments made to members of the

church. Interestingly enough, this discussion by the apostle

Paul uses the same interchange that Peter made in speaking to

Ananias and Sapphira. The Spirit in First Corinthians 12:4-11,

and Lord and God, in verses 5, 6 and 28, are used interchange-

ably.

What did Jesus call the representative He was going to send

to His followers after His ascension? John 14:16.

Here Jesus addresses His Father as an equal and petitions a

gift for His followers. For "another" here the Greek employs the

word

altos.

It actually means another of the same kind, in con-

tradistinction to

heteros

which means another of "another

kind." Jesus intended to send someone to the disciples, and

succeeding generations of His followers, who is like Himself—

divine. Previously Jesus had related Himself to His Father. Now

He relates Himself to the Spirit. Consequently They are all

alike—divine.

Notice how the Spirit and God are closely related in First

Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 12:4-6.

THINK IT THROUGH

FURTHER STUDY

How do we explain that the Three Persons in the Godhead

are essentially alike In power, but with different positions in

the plan of salvation?

"There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the

name of these three great powers—the Father, the Son, and the

Holy Spirit—those who receive Christ by living faith are bap-

tized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient sub-

jects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ."—

Evangelism,

p. 615.

The Acts of the Apostles,

pp. 51-53.

The Personality and Divinity

of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 1



❑

Friday

October 6



Part 6



"There Is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called In

THE DIVINE one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one

AMBASSADOR God and Father of all, who Is above all, and through all, and In

you all" (Eph. 4:4-6).

The different members in the human body do not perform the

same function. If they did, they would not compose or constitute

a body. So the Three Persons in the Godhead do not perform

identical work in relation to either this earth or the universe. In

an organization different members perform different functions.

The same is true of the Godhead. Consequently, specific tasks

devolve on each divine person in the heavenly economy. Their

particular functions do not subordinate one to the other, except

by Their choice to function in that particular way. One is not

intrinsically greater or higher than another, any more than the

president of a country or an organization is greater than another

citizen of the nation or another member of the organization,

except that after his election he fills that position by the choice

of the others. He is the first among equals. In this way the Three

Persons in the Godhead relate to people in different ways, for

example, Source, Mediator, and Communicator.

In the divine economy, what was, and is the Spirit's specific

function in representing the Godhead In a world of sin? Gen.

6:3; John 16:8-11.

After man's step into disobedience and fall into sin, it became

the work of the Third Person of the Godhead to contact man, to

try to find a dwelling place within him and bring him back into

willing obedience to God. Man, having become subject to his

passions rather than obedient to God, was to be the subject of

the Spirit's work. As man responds, the Holy Spirit dwells within

him and guides him back to his Creator.

How does the apostle Peter refer to the striving of the Spirit

with the antediluvians? 1 Peter 3:18-20.

The same Spirit that quickened or raised Jesus from the dead

worked on the hearts and minds of the antediluvians through

the preaching of Noah. Nearly all of them were captives in the

prison house of sin (see Isa. 42:7; Luke 4:18; 2 Tim. 2:26), and

the Spirit did all that God could to make them willing to be set

free. Jesus was to come and die for them for this purpose, and

the provision yet to be made at Calvary was available through

the ministry of the Holy Spirit to the antediluvians.



FURTHER STUDY



Patriarchs and Prophets,

pp. 95-97.

2/The Holy spirit

Symbolized in

Scripture

LESSON 2 October 8-14

"The wind bloweth where it listeth,

and thou hearest the sound thereof,

but canst not tell whence it cometh,

and whither it goeth: so is every one

that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8).

In addition to numerous references

to the Spirit by name, both in the Old

and in the New Testament, the Spirit is

frequently alluded to through the use

of a variety of symbols. In this lesson

some of the symbols used to designate

the Holy Spint will be briefly studied.*

Since it is only through an

acquaintance with the symbols,

emblems, or illustrations used for the

Spirit that His work and ministry in the

believer's life can be adequately

understood, this week's study is a

significant one. An understanding of

the symbols selected will help us to

grasp the position the Spirit desires to

occupy and the work He wishes to

accomplish in the life of every

believer. These symbols serve to

emphasize and illustrate teachings

that might otherwise be difficult or

impossible to understand.

Probably one of the most familiar

figures of the Spirit is the dove,

although it is employed only once in

the Bible. The reason it is such a

well-known symbol of the Spirit is

found in the fact that it was the

representation God used in bestowing

the Spirit on Jesus at the time of His

baptism. Another more common

symbol of the Spirit, water, is used

extensively both in the Old and New

Testaments, as is another common

symbol, fire.

Water is a symbol of outward

cleansing; fire, on the other hand,

does a more thorough job of

cleansing, and thus even more

appropriately is applied to the work of

the Holy Spirit in our lives. An

illustration of this is seen in the fact

that ore is occasionally washed before

it is poured into the smelting furnace.

But water cannot remove the

impurities within the pieces of ore.

The fire of the smelting furnace,

however, melts the ore, separating the

alloys and impurities from the pure

metal. In the same way the fire of the

Spirit can cleanse and purify us from

all impurities or sin.

F. E. Marsh aptly illustrates the

manifold ministry of the Spirit in the

following words: "In us as a Light to

illuminate; in us as a Friend to

counsel; in us as Water to refresh; in

us as a Comforter to cheer; in us as a

Teacher to teach; in us as a Guide to

direct; in us as Oil to make us shine; in

us as a Fire to purge; in us as a Dove to

sympathize; in us as the Seal to

secure; in us as the Witness to

confirm; in us as the Strength to keep;

in us as the Power to pray; in us as the

Source of fruitbearing; in us as Sap to

make us grow; in us as the

Remernbrancer to remind us that all

the precious promises of God are yea

and amen in Christ; and in us as the

Earnest of the coming glory."—

Emblems of the Holy Spirit

(Grand

Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications,

1971), p. 246. Used by permission.

We shall not cover all these symbols

in this lesson, but will study the most

significant.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Dove, Comforter, and Eye of God

(John 1:32)

Water

(John 7:37-39)

Oil

and Unction

(Matt. 25:1-4)

Seal and Guarantee

(2 Cor. 1:72)

Light and Fire

(John 1:9)

Wind

(John 3:8)

*For an interesting elucidation on biblical sym-

bols of the Spirit the reader may consult F. E.

Marsh,

Emblems of the Holy Spirit

(Grand Rapids,

Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1971), and Leslie Har-

dinge,

Dove of Gold

(Nashville, Tenn.: Southern

Publishing Association, 1972).

The Holy Spirit Symbolized in Scripture

LESSON 2

❑

Sunday

October 8

Part 1

DOVE, COMFORTER,

AND EYE OF GOD

"John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from

heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him" (John 1:32).

"The Lord had promised to give John a sign whereby he might

know who was the Messiah, and now as Jesus went up out of the

water, the promised sign was given; for he saw the heavens

opened, and the Spirit of God, like a dove of burnished gold,

hovered over the head of Christ."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible Commentary,

vol. 5, p. 1078.

The dove as an emblem of the Spirit denotes His purity.

Matthew 10:16 speaks of Christ's followers who ought to be

harmless or, still better translated, "unmixed" or "pure" as

doves. As the dove descended from heaven, so purity can be

imparted to man only from heaven. The dove is further a symbol

of peace. It is not a scavenger, as a vulture or a raven; nor is it a

bird of prey. It is a gentle bird. It aptly symbolizes the beauty,

gentleness, peace, and heavenly origin of the Spirit as He im-

parts peace of heart and soul to Christ's followers.

What office do the following texts inform us the Spirit fills In

relation to men?" John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:7.

Often the dove has been used as a messenger. The Spirit is

God's messenger to men, or God's ambassador to mankind,

sent in the name of Christ to be our Comforter. As such He

especially communicates peace and joy to the saints (see Rom.

14:17) and edifies the church (Acts 9:31).

What is the Spirit descriptively called in the book of Revela-

tion? Rev. 5:6 (Compare 1 Peter 1:11.)

"The number 7 indicates completeness, and is symbolic."—

The

Acts of the Apostles,

p. 585. As the eye of God the ministry of

the Spirit is complete and perfect, possessing insight, foresight,

and hindsight. God occasionally grants this gift to His servants

who are imbued with His Spirit. Elisha and Peter obviously had

hindsight (see 2 Kings 5:20-27; Acts 5:1-4). Paul through the

Spirit was given foresight of the "bonds and afflictions" that

would befall him in Jerusalem. (See Acts 20:23.) Our perceptiv-

ity will be enhanced through the imbuement of the Spirit.



THINK IT THROUGH



How can I avail myself of the spiritual insight that may be

mine through the guidance of the Spirit?

"If we are constantly looking unto Jesus and receiving His

Spirit, we shall have clear eyesight."—Selected

Messages,

bk. 2, p. 60.



FURTHER STUDY



Christ's Object Lessons,

"Two Worshipers," pp. 158, 159.

The Holy Spirit Symbolized in Scripture

LESSON 2

❑

Monday

October 9



Part 2



"On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up

WATER and proclaimed, 'If any one thirst, let him come to me and

drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, "Out of

his heart shall flow rivers of living water."' Now this he said

about the Spirit" (John 7:37-39, RSV).

Jesus here likens the Spirit to water. Water is essential to life.

There can be no life without water. So there can be no spiritual

life without the presence of the Spirit.

"The cry of Christ to the thirsty soul is still going forth, and it

appeals to us with even greater power than to those who heard it

in the temple on that last day of the feast. The fountain is open

for all. The weary and exhausted ones are offered the refreshing

draught of eternal life. Jesus is still crying, 'If any man thirst, let

him come unto Me, and drink.' Let him that is athirst come. And

whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.'

"—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 454.

How does the prophet Isaiah compare water with the Spirit?

Isa. 44:3, 4.

The second part of verse 3 explains what the first part actually

means. Verse 4 indicates that as there will be growth as a result

of pouring out water upon parched land, so there will be

spiritual growth as a result of the outpouring of God's Spirit.

And growth alone is positive evidence of life. As parched land is

clothed with verdant growth through water, so the Spirit can

transform a barren soul into a person of Christian beauty. "The

Spirit of God through faith produces a new life in the soul."—

The Desire of Ages,

p. 176.

How did Jesus make it plain that the Spirit, as symbolized by

water, satisfies seeking souls? John 4:13, 14.

"The water that Christ referred to was the revelation of His

grace in His word; His Spirit, His teaching, is as a satisfying

fountain to every

soul."—Testimonies to Ministers,

p. 390.



THINK IT THROUGH



How can I personally drink of the satisfying water of life?

"He who seeks to quench his thirst at the fountains of this

world will drink only to thirst again. Everywhere men are un-

satisfied. They long for something to supply the need of the

soul. Only One can meet that want. The need of the world, 'The

Desire of all nations,' is Christ. The divine grace which He alone

can impart, is as living water, purifying, refreshing, and in-

vigorating the soul."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 187.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pp. 190, 453, 454.

The Holy Spirit Symbolized in Scripture

LESSON 2

❑

Tuesday

October 10



Part 3



"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten

OIL AND virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the

UNCTION bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with

them: but the wise took oil In their vessels with their lamps"

(Matt. 25:1-4).

Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. (See

Christ's Object Lessons,

p. 407.) As lamps in the time of Christ did not give light without

oil, so a Christian cannot bring light to the world, as he is

commissioned to (see Matt. 5:14-16), without the Spirit in his

life. The wise virgins in the parable "had received the grace of

God, the regenerating, enlightening power of the Holy Spirit,

which renders His word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path.

In the fear of God they had studied the Scriptures to learn the

truth, and had earnestly sought for purity of heart and life."—

The Great Controversy,

p. 394.

In what terms Is the light-giving power of the Holy Spirit

described In Zechariah? Zech. 4:1-6.

The lamps or the lampstands (the candlesticks) represent the

church or Christ's followers. (See Rev. 1:20.) "From the holy

ones that stand in God's presence His Spirit is imparted to the

human instrumentalities who are consecrated to His

service."—Christ's Object Lessons,

p. 408.

It is only through the anointing and "the renewing power of

the Holy Spirit upon the heart"

(The Great Controversy,

p. 256)

that you and I may develop the right attitude toward divine light

and truth.



THINK IT THROUGH



What happens concerning those around me when I become

a recipient of the Spirit?

"God's people are to be channels for the outworking of the

highest influence in the universe. In Zechariah's vision the two

olive trees which stand before God are represented as emptying

the golden oil out of themselves through golden tubes into the

bowl of the sanctuary. From this the lamps of the sanctuary are

fed, that they may give a continuous bright and shining light. So

from the anointed ones that stand in God's presence the full-

ness of divine light and love and power is imparted to His

people, that they may impart to others light and joy and refresh-

ing. They are to become channels through which divine in-

strumentalities communicate to the world the tide of God's

love."—Testimonies,

vol. 6, pp. 11, 12.



FURTHER STUDY



Christ's Object Lessons, "To

Meet the Bridegroom," pp.

405-408.

The Holy Spirit Symbolized in Scripture

LESSON 2

❑

Wednesday

October 11

Part 4

SEAL AND

GUARANTEE

THINK IT THROUGH

"He has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our

hearts as a guarantee" (2 Cor. 1:22, RSV).

When a person by faith accepts Christ, he is immediately

sealed by God as His son or daughter. This "stamp of owner-

ship" is attested by the gift of the Holy Spirit.

"Paul here uses the figure of earnest [guarantee] money to

illustrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to believers, as a first install-

ment, an assurance of their full inheritance in the hereafter (see

Eph. 1:13, 14; cf. Rom. 8:16). It is the Christian's privilege to

receive the settled conviction of acceptance with God as His

adopted child at conversion and to retain it throughout life."—

SDA

Bible Commentary,

vol. 6, p. 833.

The only being who can break the seal is the believer himself.

If he chooses no longer to be God's man or be controlled by

God, God will release him. This is in accordance with the free

moral choice God has granted to every intelligent being.

How does the believer receive the Spirit as the guarantee

[earnest] of the inheritance? Eph. 1:12-14.

The main idea in a guarantee [earnest] is a pledge. The gift of

the Spirit to the believer is the pledged guarantee to the believer

on the part of God that He will ultimately bring him the full gift of

salvation by taking him out of this world of sin and give him an

inheritance in His eternal kingdom. Even in human affairs the

earnest money or down payment is the purchaser's pledge that

he will go through with a particular transaction. The Spirit is

God's down payment on His promised salvation. As the rainbow

to Noah was God's guarantee that there would not be another

flood, so the

Spirit in the life of the believer is the believer's

constant reminder of ultimate salvation despite the typhoons of

trial along the way. (See Eph. 4:30.)

Am I willing to remain sealed by God with the Spirit, when I

realize that the seal of the Spirit involves God's ownership and

control over my entire life?

"There are quicksands upon which many are in danger of

being swamped. It is always safe to seek for the earnest of the

Spirit of God, if we do not mingle with it a force and presumption

that is not heaven born.... There is danger of running ahead of

Christ. We should honor the Holy Spirit by following where it

shall lead. 'Lean not unto thine own understanding' (Prov.

3:5)."—Selected Messages,

bk. 2, pp. 59, 60.

A justified person's "understanding is under the control of

the Holy Spirit, and his character is molded after the divine

likeness."—Selected

Messages,

bk. 1, p. 391.

FURTHER STUDY



The Ministry of Healing,

pp. 36, 37.

The Holy Spirit Symbolized in. Scripture

LESSON 2

❑

Thursday

October 12

Part 5

LIGHT AND

FIRE

"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that

cometh into the world" (John 1:9).

Through His Spirit Jesus reaches everywhere and "lighteth

every man that cometh into the world."

"Wherever there is an impulse of love and sympathy, wher-

ever the heart reaches out to bless and uplift others, there is

revealed the working of God's Holy Spirit. In the depths of

heathenism, men who have had no knowledge of the written law

of God, who have never even heard the name of Christ, have

been kind to His servants, protecting them at the risk of their

own lives. Their acts show the working of a divine power. The

Holy Spirit has implanted the grace of Christ in the heart of the

savage, quickening his sympathies contrary to his nature, con-

trary to his education. The 'Light which lighteth every man that

cometh into the world' (John 1:9), is shining in his soul; and this

light, if heeded, will guide his feet to the kingdom of God."—

Christ's Object Lessons,

p. 385.

With what did John the Baptist say Jesus would baptize His

followers? Matt. 3:11.

Fire had a significant meaning to people familiar with Old

Testament traditions, for it denoted the presence of God (see

Ex. 3:2); it also represented the protection and leading provi-

dence of God (see Ex. 13:21); the approval of God (see Lev.

9:24); and the cleansing and sanctifying power of God (see Isa.

6:6,

How Is fire an appropriate symbol of purification? Num.

31:23; Mal. 3:1-3; 4:1.

"The prophet Isaiah had declared that the Lord would cleanse

His people from their iniquities 'by the spirit of judgment, and by

the spirit of burning.' The word of the Lord to Israel was, 'I will

turn My hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and

take away all thy tin.' Isa. 4:4; 1:25. To sin, wherever found, 'our

God is a consuming fire.' Heb. 12:29. In all who submit to His

power the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if men cling to sin,

they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which

destroys sin, must destroy them."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 107.



THINK IT THROUGH



How can I allow the Spirit to work in me so that I may live in

the presence of God, who Is a consuming fire? (See Heb.

12:25-29.)



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pp. 425, 426.

The Holy Spirit Symbolized in Scripture

LESSON 2

❑

Friday

October 13



Part



"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the

WIND sound thereof, but canst not tell whence It cometh, and

whither It goeth: so is every one that Is born of the Spirit"

(John

3:8).

The wind is not visible; we do not know from where it comes

or where it goes. But although invisible, its effects are plainly

seen. Jesus likened the Spirit to the wind. He cannot be seen, yet

the effects He brings about in changed human lives are plainly

evident. But the Spirit Himself is a mystery. Of the three persons

in the Godhead, He is the most unfamiliar to man. Jesus came to

reveal or make known the Father (see John 1:18), and man saw

Jesus in human form. But no one has ever seen the Spirit nor

has anyone revealed Him to us.

"Christ uses the wind as a symbol of the Spirit of God. As the

wind bloweth whither it listeth, and we cannot tell whence it

cometh or whither it goeth, so it is with the Spirit of God. We do

not know through whom it will be manifested."—Selected

Mes-

sages,

bk. 2, p. 15.

The Spirit is sovereign. Man is not permitted to control the

Spirit, any more than man can control the wind. The wind blows

where it pleases. (See

The Desire of Ages,

p. 672.)

Jesus said to Nicodemus that man must be born from above.

(See DA 168.) The wind, too, is from the heavens above and

blows on the earth. And the wind is powerful. Anyone who has

experienced a tornado, a hurricane, or a typhoon knows the

dreadful force or power of the wind. The Spirit's work in regen-

eration is also a powerful rebuilding or regenerating force.

"Like the wind, which is invisible, yet the effects of which are

plainly seen and felt, is the Spirit of God in its work upon the

human heart. That regenerating power, which no human eye

can see, begets a new life in the soul; it creates a new being in

the image of God. While the work of the Spirit is silent and

imperceptible, its effects are manifest. If the heart has been

renewed by the Spirit of God, the life will bear witness to the

fact. While we cannot do anything to change our hearts or to

bring ourselves into harmony with God; while we must not trust

at all to ourselves or our good works, our lives will reveal

whether the grace of God is dwelling within us. A change will be

seen in the character, the habits, the pursuits. The contrast will

be clear and decided between what they have been and what

they

are."—Steps to Christ,

p. 57.



FURTHER STUDY



Steps to Christ,

"The Test of Discipleship," pp. 57, 58.

3/Jesus and the

Holly Spirit

LESSON 3 October 15-21

"The angel answered and said unto

her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon

thee, and the power of the Highest

shall overshadow thee: therefore also

that holy thing which shall be born of

thee shall be called the Son of God"

(Luke 1:35).

The Holy Spirit was involved in the

incarnation of Jesus and His coming to

this earth. Jesus was conceived by

Mary through the overshadowing of

the Spirit. As a child He "grew and

became strong, filled with wisdom;

and the favor of God was upon him"

(Luke 2:40, RSV) as He was led by the

Spirit.

Before He entered upon His public

ministry, Jesus was endowed with the

Spirit as He descended on Him in the

form of a dove at His baptism.

Immediately after the baptism the

Spirit led Him into the wilderness.

Jesus went there to be alone with His

Father before entering upon His

public ministry. In His conflict with the

tempter He gained the victory through

using the sword of the Spirit or the

Word.

Throughout His entire ministry

Jesus was led by the Spirit. He

unreservedly committed Himself to

the accomplishment of His Father's

will, as unveiled to Him in the Sacred

Writings and the promptings of the

Spirit. He surrendered His own

inclinations. He had no more desire to

die at the age of 33 than you and I do.

In fact, He pleaded with His Father to

take that cup away, if possible. But He

would rather die at 33 than go contrary

to His Father's will in the least

particular. He did not insist on having

His own way, although He could easily

have escaped death. He would only

have had to perform a miracle before

Herod to be set free. But Jesus did not

come to this earth to play safe or to

save Himself; He came to save men

dead in sin. (See Eph. 2:1.) This was

His Father's will and it was the will of

Jesus. In this dedicated purpose He

was constantly sustained by the Holy

Spirit.

His work, His ministry, and His

miracles were accomplished, just as

ours must be, through the direction of

the Holy Spirit and through the

ministration of angels. (See

The Desire

of Ages,

pp. 119, 143, 664.) The life of

Jesus was a Spirit-directed life from the

cradle to the grave.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Birth and Development Through

the Spirit

(Matt. 1:20)

Anointed by the Spirit

(Isaiah 11:2)

Guided by the Spirit

(John 3:34)

Sustained by the Spirit

(Isaiah 42:1, 4)

Spirit-directed Activity

(Luke 4:18, 19)

Resurrected Through the Spirit

(1 Peter 3:18)



Jesus and the



Holy Spirit

LESSON 3



❑

Sunday

October 15



Part 1



"While he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the

BIRTH AND Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son

DEVELOPMENT of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that

THROUGH which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 1:20).

THE SPIRIT

The Spirit—the agency through which God's power is

exercised—overshadowed Mary, and she conceived. We can-

not explain how this took place. Rather we choose to accept

God's statement about it as given through the physician-

evangelist Luke. (See Luke 1:35.)

Having been born through the Spirit, how did Jesus grow

and develop during His childhood? Luke 2:40.

How does Luke describe His adolescent development?

Luke 2:52.

"In the sunlight of His Father's countenance, Jesus 'in-

creased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.'

Luke 2:52. His mind was active and penetrating, with a thought-

fulness and wisdom beyond His years. Yet His character was

beautiful in its symmetry. The powers of mind and body de-

veloped gradually, in keeping with the laws of childhood.

"As a child, Jesus manifested a peculiar loveliness of disposi-

tion. His willing hands were ever ready to serve others. He

manifested a patience that nothing could disturb, and a truth-

fulness that would never sacrifice integrity. In principle firm as a

rock, His life revealed the grace of unselfish courtesy."—The

Desire of Ages,

pp. 68, 69.



THINK IT THROUGH



Once we have been born of the Spirit, can He prompt our

thoughts and actions as He did in the case of Jesus?

"Every child may gain knowledge as Jesus did. As we try to

become acquainted with our heavenly Father through His word,

angels will draw near, our minds will be strengthened, our

characters will be elevated and refined. We shall become more

like our Saviour. And as we behold the beautiful and grand in

nature, our affections go out after God. While the spirit is awed,

the soul is invigorated by coming in contact with the Infinite

through His works. Communion with God through prayer de-

velops the mental and moral faculties, and the spiritual powers

strengthen as we cultivate thoughts upon spiritual things."—

The Desire of Ages,

pp. 70, 71.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pp. 72-74.



Jesus and the



Holy Spirit

LESSON 3



❑

Monday

October 16



Part 2



"The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of

ANOINTED wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might,

BY THE the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord" (isa. 11:2).

SPIRIT

This verse indicates that Jesus, the Branch, was to be filled

with the Spirit throughout His life. Such infilling was the result

of Jesus' daily prayer and choice to submit to His Father's will.

"As a man He supplicated the throne of God, till His humanity

was charged with a heavenly current that connected humanity

with divinity."—Education, pp. 80, 81.

According to the Gospels, how was Isaiah's prophecy

further fulfilled? Luke 3:21, 22; Matt. 3:16, 17.

The time of baptism was a moment of further decision for

Jesus. He then decided the time had come for Him to enter upon

His special work and mission in conformity with the purpose of

His incarnation.

"Direct from the throne issue the beams of His glory. The

heavens are opened, and upon the Saviour's head descends a

dovelike form of purest light,—fit emblem of Him, the meek and

lowly One. . . .

" ... The Holy Spirit rested upon him [John the Baptist], and

with outstretched hand pointing to Jesus, he cried, 'Behold the

Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.'

"—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 112.

Where did the Spirit lead Him immediately after His bap-

tism? Luke 4:1; compare Matt. 4:1.

Occasionally we may be prone to think that it was not the Holy

Spirit, but some other spirit that prompted Jesus to go into the

wilderness after His baptism. But Jesus heeded the promptings

of no spirit but the Holy Spirit. After His baptism Jesus felt the

need to be alone with His Father, and one reason the Spirit led

Him into the wilderness was so that He might enjoy this intimate

fellowship and gain directions for His life before He entered

upon His public ministry. (See DA 114.)



THINK IT THROUGH



Can I expect the Holy Spirit to guide in my life as He did In

Jesus'? If so, what must I do in order to allow Him to do so?

"His [Jesus'] hours of happiness were found when alone with

nature and with God. Whenever it was His privilege, He turned

aside from the scene of His labor, to go into the fields, to

meditate in the green valleys, to hold communion with God on

the mountainside or amid the trees of the forest. The early

morning often found Him in some secluded place, meditating,

searching the Scriptures, or in prayer."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 90.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pp. 111-113.

3-A.Q.-4-78

Jesus and the Holy Spirit

LESSON 3



❑

Tuesday

October 17

Part 3

GUIDED BY

THE SPIRIT

THINK IT THROUGH

"For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for

God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him" (John 3:34).

Today's English Version

lucidly renders this verse as follows:

"The one whom God has sent speaks God's words, because

God gives him the fullness of his Spirit."

"The Father gave His Spirit without measure to His Son, and

we also may partake of its fullness."—The

Great Controversy,

477. Jesus was sealed by the Spirit as implied in John 6:27. The

Spirit-sealing was a sign that He was wholly committed to His

Father's will and way of life.

What was the source of the instruction Jesus gave? Acts 1:2.

Jesus did not speak His own words. (See John 14:10.) His

thoughts, as well as the words He spoke, were the thoughts and

the words of His Father indited by the Spirit.

"Not even by a thought did he yield to temptation."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 123.

"Had there been one deviation from the divine mind in the

work of Christ, the plan of redemption would have proved a

failure."—Ellen G. White,

Review and Herald,

February 15,

1898.

What was Jesus' main objective during His life on earth?

John 4:34; 6:38; 8:29.

"Jesus did not try to find a name or title describing himself

and the work he had to do; he simply followed the will of God as

it was revealed to him."—The Interpreter's Bible

(Nashville,

Tenn.: Abingdon Press, 1951), vol. 7, p. 267. It was through His

continuous obedience to the guidance of the Spirit that Jesus

was always able to please His Father.

Am I willing to choose constantly to submit my thoughts and

my choices to the will of God? Or is my refusal to do this the

probable reason for my restless, troubled state of mind?

"Jesus stood, with reference to His human nature, during all

the days of His humiliation, under the constant and penetrating

operation of the Holy Spirit. The Son, who lacked nothing, but

as God in union with the Father and the Holy Spirit possessed all

things, compassionately adopted our human nature. . Altho

He was the Son, He did not take its preparation, enriching, and

operation into His own hand, but was willing to receive them

from the hand of the Holy Spirit."—Abraham Kuyper,

The Work

of the Holy Spirit

(Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub-

lishing Company, 1975), p. 96.

FURTHER STUDY



The Ministry of Healing,

p. 479.

Jesus and the Holy Spirit

LESSON 3



❑

Wednesday

October 18

Part 4



"Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my

SUSTAINED soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring

BY THE SPIRIT forth judgment to the Gentiles."

"He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set Judg-

ment in the earth: and the Isles shall wait for his law" (Isa.

42:1, 4).

"My servant" in this passage applies specifically to Jesus.

Many expressions in this chapter of Isaiah can apply to no one

else. Jesus conclusively made this application by applying this

passage to Himself in Matthew 12:14-21.

The prophetic prediction foretells that the Spirit would up-

hold Jesus. Thus, "He shall not fail nor be discouraged." '

How was the promise of Isaiah 59:19 (second part), about

the Spirit of the Lord lifting up a standard against Satan,

fulfilled in the experience of Jesus? Matt. 4:4, 7, 10.

THINK IT THROUGH

When Satan presented his inducements to Jesus during His

wilderness temptation, this promise was fulfilled in His experi-

ence. "He was fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy

Spirit."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 123. The words in Deuteronomy

8:3; 6:16 and '13

were

brought to His mind in accordance with

His own promise to His disciples in John 14:26 (second part).

"Jesus met Satan with the words of Scripture. 'It is written,'

He said. In every temptation the weapon of His warfare was the

word of God. Satan demanded of Christ a miracle as a sign of

His divinity. But that which is greater than all miracles, a firm

reliance upon a 'Thus saith the Lord,' was a sign that could not

be controverted. So long as Christ held to this position, the

tempter could gain no advantage."—The

Desire of Ages,

p.120.

What can I do in order to be willing to follow the promptings

that the Spirit places in my mind in moments of temptation and

discouragement?

"Whenever one is encompassed with clouds, perplexed by

circumstances, or afflicted by poverty or distress, Satan is at

hand to tempt and annoy.... Often the tempter comes to us as

he came to Christ, arraying before us our weakness and infir-

mities. He hopes to discourage the soul, and to break our hold

on God. Then he is sure of his prey. If we would meet him as

Jesus did, we should escape many a defeat. By parleying with

the enemy, we give him an advantage."—The

Desire of Ages,

pp. 120, 121.

FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pp. 122, 123.

Jesus and the Holy Spirit

LESSON 3



❑

Thursday

October 19



Part 5



"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath

SPIRIT-DIRECTED anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me

ACTIVITY to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the cap-

tives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them

that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord"

(Luke 4:18, 19).

The indwelling Spirit not only brings joy to the heart of the

believer but prompts him to do something to bring joy to others.

In His life Jesus demonstrated the same concern and work that

will characterize the Spirit-filled person. He preached the gos-

pel to the poor demoniacs (Mark 5:1-16); He forgave fallen Mary

Magdalene (see John 8:1-11; Luke 7:36-48; DA 169) and deliv-

ered her from captivity to sin; He restored sight to the physically

blind (see Mark 10:46-52), as well as to the spiritually blind; He

set at liberty them that were bruised and proclaimed the accept-

able year of the Lord.

The Pharisees asserted that Jesus cast out devils through the

power of Beelzebub. But He made it clear that He performed His

miracles through the power of the Spirit. (See Matt. 12:28.)

Jesus was dependent on the power of the Spirit to perform His

miracles during His earthly ministry.

How did Jesus set at liberty a person who was bruised by

sin? John 8:2-11.

"The woman had stood before Jesus, cowering with fear. His

words, 'He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a

stone,' had come to her as a death sentence. She dared not lift

her eyes to the Saviour's face, but silently awaited her doom. In

astonishment she saw her accusers depart speechless and con-

founded; then those words of hope fell upon her ear, 'Neither do

I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.' Her heart was melted, and

she cast herself at the feet of Jesus, sobbing out her grateful

love, and with bitter tears confessing her sins."—The

Desire of

Ages,

p. 462.

What part did the Spirit play in Christ's offering Himself as a

ransom for our sins? Heb. 9:14.

How did Peter sum up the Spirit-inspired ministry of Jesus?

Acts 10:38.



THINK IT THROUGH



If I have received the Spirit, and been Imbued with His

power, how will this be evidenced In the things I do each day?



FURTHER STUDY



Isaiah 58;

Welfare Ministry,

pp. 35-41.



Jesus and the



Holy Spirit

LESSON 3



❑

Friday

October 20



Part 6



"Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the

RESURRECTED unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the

THROUGH flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18).



THE SPIRIT



(See also Rom. 8:11; 1:4.)

God is one, but triune. The Three Persons of the Trinity work

together. They are intimately united in Their work. Thus, al-

though this text says that Jesus was raised from the dead by the

Spirit, the other two persons of the Deity united in resurrecting

Jesus.

Who does the apostle Paul say raised Jesus from the dead?

Gal. 1:1; Eph. 1:17-20.

"The earth trembles at his [the angel's] approach, the hosts of

darkness flee, and as he rolls away the stone, heaven seems to

come down to earth. The soldiers see him removing the stone as

he would a pebble, and hear him cry, Son of God, come forth;

Thy Father calls

Thee."—The Desire of Ages,

p. 780.

What did Jesus Himself say about His resurrection? John

10:17, 18.

"Over the rent sepulcher of Joseph Christ had proclaimed in

triumph, 'I am the resurrection, and the life.' These words could

be spoken only by the Deity. All created beings live by the will

and power of God. They are dependent recipients of the life of

God. From the highest seraph to the humblest animate being,

all are replenished from the Source of life. Only He who is one

with God could say, I have power to lay down My life, and I have

power to take it again. In His divinity, Christ possessed the

power to break the bonds of death."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 785.



THINK IT THROUGH



How can I be assured of being raised by Jesus in the resur-

rection of life?

"Graves are opened, and 'many of them that sleep in the dust

of the earth . . . awake, some to everlasting life, and some to

shame and everlasting contempt.' Daniel 12:2. All who have

died in the faith of the third angel's message come forth from

the tomb glorified, to hear God's covenant of peace with those

who have kept His law. 'They also which pierced Him' (Revela-

tion 1:7), those that mocked and derided Christ's dying agonies,

and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are

raised to behold Him in His glory and to see the honor placed

upon the loyal and obedient."—The

Great Controversy,

p. 637.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pp. 785-787.

4/The Promise

of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 4 October 22-28

"I will pray the Father, and he shall

give you another Comforter, that he

may abide with you for ever" (John

14:16).

Many Old Testament writers

promised an outpouring of the Spirit.

(See Joel 2:28, 29.) John the

Baptist—the forerunner of

Jesus—informed the crowds that the

One who would come after him—the

Messiah—would baptize the

repentant with the Holy Spirit and fire.

However, the disciples of Jesus did

not see the need of the Spirit during

Jesus' ministry. Jesus was close to

them. Why should they need another?

Jesus told His disciples that the Jewish

leaders would finally deliver Him up to

be crucified. (See Matt. 16:21; 17:22,

23; 20:17-19.) But these three

announcements had made no

apparent impression upon the

disciples. After instituting the Lord's

Supper in the upper room, Jesus told

His disciples again that He would not

be with them much longer. (See John

13:33.) Gradually it dawned on their

minds that He was soon to leave them.

Ellen White relates their reaction in

these words: "The disciples could not

rejoice when they heard this. Fear fell

upon them. They pressed close about

the Saviour. Their Master and Lord,

their beloved Teacher and Friend, He

was dearer to them than life. To Him

they had looked for help in all their

difficulties, for comfort in their

sorrows and disappointments. Now

He was to leave them, a lonely,

dependent company. Dark were the

forebodings that filled their

hearts."—The

Desire of Ares,

p. 662.

Jesus knew that His disciples would

feel lonely and forsaken after His

departure. While He had been with

them, they had brought their

problems and perplexities to Him. He

had often invited them to come to

Him, when they were perplexed,

weary, and heavy laden. (See Matt.

11:28.)

Foreseeing their future loneliness

and need of comfort, He promised to

send them His Spirit. The Spirit would

be their Guide and Comforter, since

they would not be able to follow their

beloved Master where He was soon to

go.

The coming Comforter was to be the

disciples' constant Companion. He

would sustain and comfort them in

their loss, and more than compensate

for their Friend's departure. Just

before His ascension Jesus reassured

the disciples again with the promise of

the coming of the Holy Spirit. (See

Luke 24:49.)

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Old Testament Promises

(Isa. 32:15)

John the Baptist's Promise

(Matt. 3:11)

The Spirit "Not Yet Given"

(John 7:37-39)

Jesus' Promise

(John 14:16)

Another Comforter

(John 14:18)

A More Adequate Helper

(John 16:7)



The Promise of



the Holy Spirit

LESSON 4



❑

Sunday

October 22



Part 1



"Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,



OLD TESTAMENT



and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,



PROMISES



and the fruitful field is deemed a forest"

(Isa. 32:15, RSV).

In this verse the prophet Isaiah points forward to the "out-

pourings of God's Spirit upon the world, which would cause

regions spiritually barren and desolate to blossom as the

rose."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

vol. 4, p. 225.

In what beautiful words does the prophet Ezekiel express

the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit? Eze. 36:25-27.

Ezekiel, like Isaiah, speaks of the Spirit under the symbol of

water. By using the emblem of water, the prophet presents the

Spirit both as a cleansing and life-giving agent.

"In the preaching of the word of God, the sign that should be

manifest now and always is the presence of the Holy Spirit, to

make the word a regenerating power to those that hear. This is

God's witness before the world to the divine mission of His

Son."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 407.

What would God have been willing to do if Israel had but

turned to Him in repentance and rededication? Eze. 39:29.

This verse shows that God would have poured out His Spirit

upon repentant Israel and given them enabling power to

evangelize the world in preparation for the coming Messiah, if

they had but been willing to follow His biddings.

In what well-known words does the prophet Joel promise an

outpouring of the Spirit, and in what respect does it differ from

many other Old Testament promises of the Spirit? Joel 2:

28, 29.

While some of the Scriptures in the Old Testament give no

indication with reference to time for the outpouring of the Spirit

upon God's children, Joel places the bestowal very definitely in

the final day of the Lord.

"If this prophecy of Joel met a partial fulfillment in the days of

the apostles, we are living in a time when it is to be even more

evidently manifest to the people of God. He will so bestow His

Spirit upon His people that they will become a light amid the

moral darkness; and great light will be reflected in all parts of

the world. 0 that our faith might be increased, that the Lord

might work mightily with His people."—Ellen G. White Com-

ments,

SDA Bible Commentary,

vol. 4, p. 1175.

FURTHER STUDY



The Acts of the Apostles,

pp. 40, 41.



The Promise of



the Holy Spirit

LESSON 4



❑

Monday

October 23



Part 2



"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he

JOHN THE that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not

BAPTIST'S worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and

PROMISE with fire" (Matt. 3:11).

"John proclaimed the coming of the Messiah, and called the

people to repentance. As a symbol of cleansing from sin, he

baptized them in the waters of the Jordan. Thus by a significant

object lesson he declared that those who claimed to be chosen

people of God were defiled by sin, and that without purification

of heart and life they could have no part in the Messiah's

kingdom."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 104.

But John was keenly aware that his baptism would not suffice

to fit men and women to stand in the presence of God. More was

needed than a baptism with water.

Who according to John would administer a better baptism to

repentant sinners? Matt. 3:11 (second part).

'I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance,' said John;

'but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am

not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and

with fire.' Matt. 3:11, R. V., margin."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 107.

When was there an outstanding fulfillment of John's prom-

ise? Compare Matt. 3:11 with Acts 1:4, 5; 2:1-4.

"Fire and water are two great natural purifying agencies, and

it is appropriate that both should be used to represent the

regeneration of the heart.... If men persistently cling to sin, they

must eventually be consumed with it; how much better it is to

permit the Holy Spirit to carry forward the purifying work now,

while probation still lingers! A man will be either purged of sin or

purged along with

it."—SDA Bible Commentary,

vol. 5, p. 300.

How does John's promise of the Spirit fit the purpose of

Jesus' life as given in Matt. 1:21?

"The religion of Christ means more than the forgiveness of

sin; it means taking away our sins, and filling the vacuum with

the graces of the Holy Spirit.... When Christ reigns in the soul,

there is purity, freedom from

sin."—Christ's Object Lessons,

pp. 419, 420.

"He [Jesus] saves men, not in sin, but from sin; and those who

love Him will show their love by obedience."—The

Desire of

Ages,

p. 668.



THINK IT THROUGH



In what state of mind have I come to God? Have I come, as

many came to John the Baptist, to secure favor and privileges

in the world or with contrition for sins committed and with a

desire to become clean?



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pp. 100-103.



The Promise of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 4



❑

Tuesday

October 24



Part 3



"On the last and most important day of the festival Jesus

THE SPIRIT stood up and said in a loud voice, 'Whoever is thirsty should

NOT YET GIVEN come to me and drink. As the scripture says, "Whoever be-

lieves in me, streams of life-giving water will pour out from his

heart." ' Jesus said this about the Spirit, which those who

believed in him were going to receive. At that time the Spirit

had not yet been given, because Jesus had not been raised to

glory" (John 7:37-39, TEV).

When Jesus spoke these words, the Spirit as a dove had

already descended upon Him. An abundance of Old Testament

references indicate that the Holy Spirit had long been at work in

behalf of man. What then does John mean when he says, "The

Spirit had not yet been given"?

Even though the Spirit had worked with

men

from the very

entrance of sin, He had not come to earth in His fullness. That

was not to take place until Jesus had been glorified.

Jesus through His incarnation came to this earth to work out

man's salvation. He came in conformity with His Father's will.

But before His redemptive mission could be declared a success

and completed, Jesus' sacrifice must be acknowledged by His

Father and accepted as satisfactory.

"He died on the cross as a sacrifice for the world, and through

this sacrifice comes the greatest blessing that God could

bestow,—the gift of the Holy Spirit."—Sons

and Daughters of

God, p. 242.

As Jesus was about to leave them, what promise did He give

His disciples with reference to His presence? Matt. 28:20; Acts

1:4, 5.

"Christ is to live in his representatives by the spirit of

truth."—Ellen G. White,

Review and Herald,

April 4, 1893.

"Is not the Spirit of God to come today in answer to earnest,

persevering prayer, and fill men with power? Is not God saying

today to His praying, trusting, believing workers. . . 'Lo, I am

with you alway, even unto the end of the world'?"—

Testimonies, vol. 7,

p. 32.



THINK IT THROUGH



In what way does the Holy Spirit bring the presence of Christ

to me today? How do I respond?

"The work of the holy Spirit is immeasurably great. It is from

this source that power and efficiency come to the worker for

God; and the holy Spirit is the comforter, as the personal pres-

ence of Christ to the soul."—Ellen G. White,

Review and Herald,

November 29, 1892.



FURTHER STUDY



The Acts of the Apostles,

pp. 52-54.



The Promise of



the Holy Spirit

LESSON 4



❑

Wednesday

October 25



Part 4



Shortly before His crucifixion what did Jesus again promise

JESUS' His disciples?

PROMISE

"I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Com-

forter, that he may abide with you for ever" (John 14:16).

The word Jesus uses for "pray" in this verse has the basic

meaning of "to ask" or "to enquire." In John's writings it usually

connotes a person asking something from an equal.

This is the first direct promise made by Jesus to His disciples

concerning the coming of the Spirit. Evidently He is referring to

His coming on the Day of Pentecost. As briefly mentioned in part

3, this was not the Spirit's first appearance on the earth.

"Before this the Spirit had been in the world; from the very

beginning of the work of redemption He had been moving upon

men's hearts. But while Christ was on earth, the disciples had

desired no other helper. Not until they were deprived of His

presence would they feel their need of the Spirit, and then He

would come."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 669.

Indeed the Spirit had been on earth since Creation, and "dur-

ing the patriarchal age the influence of the Holy Spirit had often

been revealed in a marked manner, but never in its fullness."—

The Acts of the Apostles,

p. 37.

Who was to send the Spirit in whose name? John 14:26.

As Jesus came in the name of the Father (John 5:43), and did

His work in His Father's name (John 10:25), so the Spirit was to

come in the name of Jesus.

What did Jesus bestow upon the disciples before He left

them? John 20:22.

"Before He left His disciples, Christ 'breathed on them, and

saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.' John 20:22. Again

He said, 'Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you.'

Luke 24:29. But not until after the ascension was the gift re-

ceived in its fullness. Not until through faith and prayer the

disciples had surrendered themselves fully for His working was

the outpouring of the Spirit received. Then in a special sense the

goods of heaven were committed to the followers of Christ."—

Christ's Object Lessons,

p. 327.



THINK IT THROUGH



What is the main ministry of the Spirit in my life? Is He a

Comforter or a Reprover or Convictor of sin?



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pp. 668, 669.



The Promise of



the Holy Spirit

LESSON 4



❑

Thursday

October 26



Pad 5



"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (John

ANOTHER 14:18).

COMFORTER

"Another Comforter" (John 14:16) was coming to take the

place of Jesus. Up to this time Jesus had been with the disciples

and been their Helper in every emergency. But now another

Person was coming to take His place.

The Greek word translated "Comforter" is a compound word

made up of

"pare"

which means "alongside," and

"kidtos"

which means "one called." Thus

parakletos

means "one called

to stand alongside another," or one called to take his part to

help him in any emergency that arises. It has the meaning of

advocate or counselor. Further, the same verb form is trans-

lated "exhort."

"He is also an 'Exhorter.' In fact, this latter meaning is the

prominent feature of the work of the Spirit as outlined by John.

He will 'teach' and 'bring all things to . . . remembrance' (ch.

14:26). He will testify of Christ (ch. 15:26). He will 'reprove the

world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment' (ch. 16:8).

He will guide into all truth and show things to come (ch. 16:13).

He will glorify Christ and receive from Him and impart to the

disciples (ch. 16:14)."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

vol. 5, p. 1037.

But it means even more than these words. It conveys the

thought of a helper always at hand with his counsel, his

strength, and his exhortation, or whatever form of help is

needed.

By what agency is Jesus Himself able to be with His follow-

ers continuously today? 1 John 3:24; 4:13.

The apostles and their fellow believers were not to be left

alone or without help after Jesus ascended to heaven. An all-

adequate Helper was to be with them. "By the Spirit, He said, He

would manifest Himself to them."—The

Desire of Ages,

670.



THINK IT THROUGH



Do I think of the Spirit as an all-adequate and continuous

Helper by my side? Do I appreciate His ministry?



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pp. 670-672.



The Promise of



the Holy Spirit

LESSON 4



❑

Friday

October 27



Part 6



What did Jesus say about His departure from the disciples

A MORE and the Helper He would send them?

ADEQUATE



HELPER



"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that

I go away: for if Igo not away, the Comforter will not come unto

you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7).

Christ's departure would enrich the disciples, and all believ-

ers, rather than impoverish them. While on earth Jesus was

geographically limited to one particular place at a time. While

He was with the three disciples on the mountain, He could not

be with the others at the foot of the mountain. He was limited in

space as we are. But the Paraclete was not to be cumbered with

humanity or limited in space. Being omnipresent, the Spirit is

not confined by the limitation of a human body. He is equally

accessible to all everywhere.

"The Holy Spirit is Christ's representative, but divested of the

personality of humanity, and independent thereof. Cumbered

with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally.

Therefore it was for their interest that He should go to the

Father, and send the Spirit to be His successor on earth. No one

could then have any advantage because of his location or his

personal contact with Christ. By the Spirit the Saviour would be

accessible to all. In this sense He would be nearer to them than if

He had not ascended on high."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 669.

What was promised to Israel in Isaiah's time? Isa. 59:19.

How do we appropriate this promise? Gal. 3:14.

Literally this promise through the prophet Isaiah refers to the

help God would provide for His ancient people when they were

threatened by overwhelming destruction before an assaulting

enemy. But it is a promise to you and me today, as followers of

God, that He will send His Spirit to succor us in moments of

temptation.

"If we look to Jesus and trust in Him, we call to our aid a power

that has conquered the foe on the field of battle, and with every

temptation He will make a way of escape. When Satan comes in

like a flood, we must meet his temptations with the sword of the

Spirit, and Jesus will be our helper and will lift up for us a

standard against

him."—Testimonies,

vol. 5, p. 426.



THINK IT THROUGH



Do I realize that there Is invincible help for personal victory,

even though I may be surrounded or amid utmost danger?



FURTHER STUDY



Gospel Workers,

pp. 284-289.

SThe Promise

Fulfilled

LESSON 5 October 29 to November 4

"Suddenly there came a sound from

heaven as of a rushing mighty wind,

and it filled all the house where they

were sitting. And there appeared unto

them cloven tongues like as of fire,

and it sat upon each of them. And they

were all filled with the Holy Ghost"

(Acts 2:2-4).

Pentecost did not denote the

beginning of the operation of the

Spirit. Rather, it marked the beginning

of the dispensation of the Spirit

through the installation of the Holy

Spirit as the Administrator of the

Church in all things."—James Elder

Cumming, D. D., cited by A. J. Gordon

The Ministry of the Spirit

(Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship

Inc., 1964), p. 128. When Jesus

ascended to heaven, He committed

the entire administration of His church

to the Spirit until His own return in

glo

Pentecost further marked the

reinstatement of Jesus at the right

hand of God in heaven (see Acts 2:33);

it signaled His restoration to the

position He had occupied with the

Father before His incarnation, and the

beginning of His priestly ministry. As a

result and sign of this, His followers

received the fullness and power of the

Spirit.

"It was as if for ages this influence

[of the Spirit] had been held in

restraint, and now heaven rejoiced in

being able to pour upon the church

the riches of the Spirit's

power."—Testimonies, vol.

7, p. 31. It

was in this sense that John could say

about the Spirit at the Feast of

Unleavened Bread six months prior to

the crucifixion that "the Holy Ghost

was not yet given" (John 7:39). At

Pentecost He came in His fullness, as

the official Representative of Jesus

Christ on earth.

The apostolic church responded to

Christ's gift of the Spirit, and the

post-ascension church became

Spirit-filled and Spirit-directed. There

are more references to the Spirit in the

book of Acts than in any other book of

the Bible.

God is waiting to pour His Spirit in

His fullness upon every one of us: But

the Spirit will only be poured out upon

us when we have learned Christlike

submission which in silence waits

upon God, gladly accepts His answers,

and readily follows His direction.

"From the Day of Pentecost to the

present time, the Comforter has been

sent to all who have yielded

themselves fullyto the Lord and to His

service."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

p. 49.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

The Promise of the Spirit Renewed

(Acts 1:4, 5)

Waiting as Preparation

(Acts 1:14)

The Pentecostal Fulfillment

(Acts 2:1, 2)

The Gift of Language

(Ads 2:5-7)

S. "The Gift of Speech"

(Acts 2:4)

6. The Spirit After Pentecost

(Acts 4:8)

The Promise Fulfilled

LESSON 5



❑

Sunday

October 29



Part 1



Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, what earlier prom-

THE PROMISE ise to His disciples did He renew?

OF THE SPIRIT



RENEWED



"Being assembled together with them, commanded them

that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the

promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized

with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:4, 5).

The words "promise of the Father" refer to the gift of the

Spirit that Jesus promised His disciples as recorded in John

14:16-26 and 16:7-13. The disciples were to remain or stay, or

even sit (Greek:

kathizo,

Luke 24:49) in Jerusalem, until the

promise was fulfilled.

The emphasis in the command to "wait" or "sit" is upon the

fulfillment of God's promise in due time. The waiting itself

would not bring the Spirit. The word translated promise—

epaggelia—as

it is used in other parts of the New Testament

stresses God's grace rather than man's effort. The Spirit is

God's free gift in response to the believer's faith.

What would accompany the fulfillment of the promise of the

gift of the Spirit as far as the experience of the disciples was

concerned? Acts 1:8.

With the Spirit the disciples were to receive power. The bap-

tism of the Spirit is always given for the purpose of testimony

and service.

"Before one book of the New Testament was written, before

one gospel sermon had been preached after Christ's ascension,

the Holy Spirit came upon the praying apostles."—The

Desire of

Ages,

p. 672.



THINK IT THROUGH



Do I regard the endowment of the Spirit primarily as a gift of

God or as a reward?

"Christ died for all; and we are assured in His word that He is

more willing to give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him than are

earthly parents to give good gifts to their children."—The

Sanctified Life,

p. 84.

"For the daily baptism of the Spirit every worker should offer

his petition to God. Companies of Christian workers should

gather to ask for special help, for heavenly wisdom, that they

may know how to plan and execute wisely.... The presence of

the Spirit with God's workers will give the proclamation of truth

a power that not all the honor or glory of the world could

give."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

pp. 50, 51.



FURTHER STUDY



The Acts of the Apostles,

pp. 30-34.

The Promise Fulfilled

LESSON 5



❑

Monday

October 30

Part 2

WAITING AS

PREPARATION

In waiting for the fulfillment of the promise of the Spirit, what

were the disciples doing?

"These all continued with one accord In prayer and suppli-

cation, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and

with his brethren" (Acts 1:14).

Unity is not obtained by talking about it. "No, that will only

cause differences. There are three simple things to observe:

First,

be occupied with the Lord. .. .

Second,

be occupied for the

Lord.

On the day before the Battle of Trafalgar, Nelson took

Collingwood and Rotherham, who were at variance, to a spot

where they could see the foe opposed to them. 'Yonder,' said

the Admiral, 'are your enemies, shake hands and be friends like

good Englishmen.' Concentration of attention upon the

enemies of the Lord will mean their routing and our victory. The

old fable of the two earthen pots in the sea makes them say, 'If

we clash we are broken.' The daughter of dissension is dissolu-

tion,' but the daughter of common effort is unity. Third,

occupied by the Lord."—F.

E. Marsh,

Emblems of the Holy

Spirit

(Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1971), pp.

195, 196. Used by permission.

While Jesus was still with His disciples, what had often been

their attitude and relationship toward one another? Mark 9:33,

34; Luke 22:24.

"Even the disciples, though outwardly they had left all for

Jesus' sake, had not in heart ceased to seek great things for

themselves. It was this spirit that prompted the strife as to who

should be greatest. It was this that came between them and

Christ, making them so little in, sympathy with His mission of

self-sacrifice, so slow to comprehend the mystery of

redemption."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 409.



THINK IT THROUGH



Am I living in unity with the other members of my church?

"Notice that it was after the disciples had come into perfect

unity, when they were no longer striving for the highest place,

that the Spirit was poured out. They were of one accord. All

differences had been put away. And the testimony borne of

them after the Spirit had been given is the same. Mark the word:

'The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of

one soul.' The Spirit of Him who died that sinners might live,

animated the entire congregation of believers."—Evangelism,

pp. 698, 699.



FURTHER STUDY



The Acts of the Apostles,

pp. 35-37.

4-A.Q.-4-78

The Promise Fulfilled

LESSON 5



❑

Tuesday

October 31

Part



"When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all

THE with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a

PENTECOSTAL sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all

FULFILLMENT the house where they were sitting" (Acts 2:1, 2).

By Pentecost the disciples were living in complete harmony

with God's will and in complete harmony with one another. They

were thus ready for the infilling of the Spirit.

What occurrence in heaven was signified by the gift of the

Holy Spirit? Acts 2:33.

"Christ's ascension to heaven was the signal that His follow-

ers were to receive the promised blessing. For this they were to

wait before they entered upon their work. When Christ passed

within the heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the adora-

tion of the angels. As soon as this ceremony was completed, the

Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and

Christ was indeed glorified, even with the glory which He had

with the Father from all eternity. The Pentecostal outpouring

was Heaven's communication that the Redeemer's inaugura-

tion was accomplished. According to His promise He had sent

the Holy Spirit from heaven to His followers, as a token that He

had, as priest and king, received all authority in heaven and on

earth, and was the Anointed One over His people."—The

Acts of

the Apostles,

pp. 38, 39.

Until this reenthronement in heaven had taken place, Jesus

had refused to accept the adoration of the welcoming angels in

heaven. "He waves them back. Not yet; He cannot now [at His

arrival in heaven at His ascension] receive the coronet of glory

and the royal robe. He enters into the presence of His Father....

Now He declares: Father, it is finished. I have done Thy will, 0

My God. I have completed the work of redemption. If Thy justice

is satisfied, 'I will that they also, whom Thou has given Me, be

with Me where I am.' John 19:30; 17:24.

"The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is

satisfied."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 834.

THINK IT THROUGH

Do you think that the reception of the Holy Spirit by His

people will be due primarily to the goodness of God or to the

virtue of His people?

"When we bring our hearts into unity with Christ, and our lives

into harmony with His work, the Spirit that fell on the disciples

on the Day of Pentecost will fall on

us."—Testimonies,

vol. 8, p.

246.

FURTHER STUDY



Testimonies,

vol. 8, pp. 19-21.

The Promise Fulfilled

LESSON 5



❑

Wednesday

November 1



Part 4



"There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out

THE GIFT of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised

OF LANGUAGE abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded,

because that every man heard them speak in his own lan-

guage. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one

to another, Behold, are not all these which speak

Galilaeans?" (Acts 2:5-7).

The infilling of the Holy Spirit leads the recipient to witness for

God. At Pentecost the Spirit-filled believers were given the abil-

ity to use other languages in order to accomplish their mission

more effectively.

"The Holy Spirit, assuming the form of tongues of fire, rested

upon those assembled. This was an emblem of the gift then

bestowed on the disciples, which enabled them to speak with

fluency languages with which they had heretofore been unac-

quainted. The appearance of fire signified the fervent zeal with

which the apostles would labor and the power that would attend

their work."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

p. 39.

"Every known tongue was represented by those assembled.

This diversity of languages would have been a great hindrance

to the proclamation of the gospel; God therefore in a miracu-

lous manner supplied the deficiency of the apostles. The Holy

Spirit did for them that which they could not have accomplished

for themselves in a lifetime. They could now proclaim the truths

of the gospel abroad, speaking with accuracy the languages of

those for whom they were laboring. This miraculous gift was a

strong evidence to the world that their commission bore the

signet of Heaven. From this time forth the language of the

disciples was pure, simple, and accurate, whether they spoke in

their native tongue or in a foreign language."—The

Acts of the

Apostles,

pp. 39, 40.

When the Spirit later fell upon the believers at Caesarea and

Ephesus, how did lie manifest Himself among the recipients?

Acts 10:44-46; 19:1-6.

When the believers in Caesarea and Ephesus received the

Spirit, they also spoke with tongues. (See Acts 10:46; 19:6.)

Ellen G. White says about the Ephesus experience: "As Paul

'laid his hands upon them,' they received also the baptism of the

Holy Spirit, by which they were enabled to speak the languages

of other nations and to prophesy. Thus they were qualified to

labor as missionaries in Ephesus and its vicinity and also to go

forth to proclaim the gospel in Asia Minor."—The

Acts of the

Apostles,

p. 283.



THINK IT THROUGH



Was the gift on the Day of Pentecost a gift of enabling the

apostles to speak other languages, or was it a gift of hearing?

(Note Acts 2:4, 6, 8.)



FURTHER STUDY



The Story of Redemption,

pp. 242-247.



The Promise Fulfilled

LESSON 5



❑

Thursday

November 2



Part 5



How were the believers guided In their speech after Pente-

"THE GIFT cost?



OF SPEECH"



"They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak

foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech"

(Acts 2:4, Jerusalem).

Not only were they given the gift of tongues, but their mes-

sage was also under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit.

How was the deacon Philip directed in his work? Acts 8:26.

"While Philip was still in Samaria, he was directed by a

heavenly messenger to 'go toward the south unto the way that

goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza. . . . And he arose and

went.' He did not question the call, nor did he hesitate to obey;

for he had learned the lesson of conformity to God's will."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

p. 107.

As Philip approached the Ethiopian, what did he find the

traveler doing? Acts 8:30.

"An angel guided Philip to the one who was seeking for light

and who was ready to receive the gospel, and today angels will

guide the footsteps of those workers who will allow the Holy

Spirit to sanctify their tongues and refine and ennoble their

hearts. The angel sent to Philip could himself have done the

work for the Ethiopian, but this is not God's way of working. It is

His plan that men are to work for their fellow men."—The

Acts of

the Apostles,

p. 109.

What agency led Peter to a man who was seeking for truth?

Acts 10:19-22.

"In obedience to the directions just received from God, the

apostle promised to go with them. On the following morning he

set out for Caesarea, accompanied by six of his brethren. These

were to be witnesses of all that he should say or do while visiting

the Gentiles, for Peter knew that he would be called to account

for so direct a violation of the Jewish teachings."—The

Acts of

the Apostles,

p. 137.

THINK IT THROUGH

Were the early Christians unfairly favored over us by receiv-

ing minute guidance from God both in their speech and in the

direction of God's work?

"The Holy Spirit will make all who are willing to be educated

able to communicate the truth with power. It will renew every

organ of the body, that God's servants may work acceptably and

successfully. Vitality increases under the influence of the

Spirit's action."—Medical

Ministry,

p. 12.

FURTHER STUDY



The Acts of the Apostles,

pp. 107-109.

The Promise Fulfilled

LESSON 5



❑

Friday

November 3



Pad 6



Is there evidence that after Pentecost the apostles were still

THE SPIRIT filled with the Holy Spirit?

AFTER



PENTECOST



"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye

rulers of the people, and elders of Israel" (Acts 4:8).

The infilling of the Spirit experienced by the apostles at

Pentecost was not a momentary phenomenon, but a continuing

factor in their lives. This fact made the distinction between

Peter's behavior at this time and what happened at the trial of

Jesus. "In that very room and before some of those very men,

Peter had shamefully denied his Lord. This came distinctly to

his mind as he appeared for his own trial. He now had an

opportunity of redeeming his cowardice."—The

Acts of the

Apostles,

p. 62.

"With holy boldness and in the power of the Spirit Peter

fearlessly declared: 'Be it known unto you all, and to all the

people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by

Him doth this man stand here before you whole.'

"—The Acts of

the Apostles,

p. 63.

As Peter and John, in the power of the Spirit, fearlessly

witnessed for Jesus, what did the priests recognize? Acts

4:13.

Other occasions in the apostolic church when the Spirit filled

the believers are recorded in Acts 4:31; 6:5; 7:55.

By whom was the preaching of the apostles seconded? Acts

5:32.

THINK IT THROUGH

Do I regard the infilling of the fullness of the Spirit as a

once-for-all experience or do I recognize it as an abiding or

continuous experience?

"Teach your children that it is their privilege to receive every

day the baptism of the Holy

Spirit."—Counsels to Teachers,

131.

"The Lord did not lock the reservoir of heaven after pouring

His Spirit upon the early disciples. We also may receive of the

fullness of His blessing. Heaven is full of the treasures of His

grace, and those who come to God in faith may claim all that He

has promised."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible Com-

mentary,

vol. 6, p. 1055.

If all were willing to receive, all would become filled with His

Spirit."—Christ's

Object Lessons,

p. 419.

FURTHER STURY



Testimonies to Ministers,

pp. 65-68.

6/The Baptisirn

of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 6 November 5-11

"Be not drunk with wine,

wherein is

excess; but be filled with the Spirit"

(Eph. 5:18).

John the Baptist predicted that the

coming Messiah would baptize with

the Spirit and fire, as he himself had

baptized repentant sinners in water.

This prediction has been the subject

of much discussion and even dispute

among Christians. Different churches

and individuals have entertained

vastly divergent views as to what it

means to be baptized with the Spirit

and to be filled with the Spirit.

The Spirit dwells in everyone who

has accepted Jesus as His personal

Saviour. The apostle Paul confirms this

by saying, "Now if any man have not

the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his"

(Rom. 8:9), and "He [Jesus] abideth in

us, by the Spirit which he hath given

us" (1 John 3:24).

Every Christian—as we learned in

lesson 2—is sealed and given the

guarantee of the Spirit when he turns

from rebellion against God and

accepts Jesus as his Saviour. (See 2

Cor. 1:22.) In personally accepting

Jesus as our Saviour we receive the

Spirit as a heavenly endowment or

assurance of ultimate and complete

salvation. His indwelling becomes our

guarantee and constant reminder that

someday in the future Jesus will not

merely dwell within us; we shall dwell

with Him and the unfallen angels in a

realm where temptation and sin will

no longer touch us. In order to remind

us constantly of this ultimate

deliverance from the realm of sin, He

constantly gives us His Spirit.

Every true believer since Pentecost

has received the guarantee of the

Spirit which is the same experience as

baptism with the Spirit. Pentecost

marked the beginning of the

dispensation of the Spirit.

"Let Christ work by His Holy Spirit,

and awaken you as from the dead, and

carry your minds along with His. Let

Him employ your faculties. He has

created your every capability that you

may better honor and glorify His

name. Consecrate yourself to Him,

and all associated with you will see that

your energies are inspired of God, that

your noblest powers are called into

exercise to do God's service. The

faculties once used to serve self and

advance unworthy principles, once

serving as members of unrighteous

purposes, will be brought into

captivity to Jesus Christ and become

one with the will of

God."—Testimonies to Ministers,

p. 396.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Conversion and the Spirit

(Acts 2:37)

Repentance and the Spirit

(Acts 2:38)

Obedience and the Spirit

(Ads 5:32)

Faith and the Spirit

(Gal. 3:2)

An Illustration of Faith

(Ex. 14:15, 21, 22)

"Filled With the Spirit"

(Eph. 5:18)

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 6



❑

Sunday

November 5

Part 1



"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart,

CONVERSION AND and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and

THE SPIRIT brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37).

(Compare Acts 9:5, 6; 16:30; John 16:8.)

God speaks to the unconverted through the Holy Spirit. Con-

cerning the apostles' preaching at Pentecost, we read: "The

Holy Spirit sent the arguments home to hearts with divine

power. The words of the apostles were as sharp arrows of the

Almighty, convicting men of their terrible guilt in rejecting and

crucifying the Lord of glory."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

p. 45.

As they repented and were baptized as an outward Indica-

tion of their change of heart, what did they then receive,

according to Peter's statement? Acts 2:38.

"On that memorable occasion large numbers who had

heretofore ridiculed the idea of so unpretending a person as

Jesus being the Son of God, became thoroughly convinced of

the truth and acknowledged Him as their Saviour. Three

thousand souls were added to the church. The apostles spoke

by the power of the Holy Ghost. . . .

"The arguments of the apostles alone, although clear and

convincing, would not have removed the prejudice of the Jews

which had withstood so much evidence. But the Holy Ghost

sent those arguments home with divine power to their

hearts."—The

Story of Redemption,

p. 245.

What does the apostle Paul say about being baptized into

the church or into the body of Christ? 1 Cor. 12:13.

The word translated "by" in the above verse (KJV) may also be

translated "in" (as in

NEB,

etc.). Thus genuine believers are

baptized

one Spirit into the body of Christ (verse 12), which is

the church. Baptism in the Spirit or conversion ideally precedes

water baptism. Baptism in water is an outward demonstration of

the change that has already taken place in the heart. The true

believer is born by the Spirit (John 3:5, 6); the Spirit is the

sealing agent (Eph. 1:13, 14); and the Spirit has been given him

as an earnest (guarantee) and reminder that he belongs to God

(2 Cor. 5:5). No person is a Christian or a child of God at all if the

Spirit does not dwell in him (Rom. 8:9), or if he has not been

baptized by the Spirit.

THINK IT THROUGH



Is it possible for me to be a member of the church without

really being a member of the spiritual body of Christ, and

hence a recipient of His Spirit?

FURTHER STUDY



The Acts of the Apostles,

pp. 41-46.



The Baptism of



the Holy Spirit

LESSON 6



❑

Monday

November 6



Part 2



"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every

REPENTANCE AND one.of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of

THE SPIRIT sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts

2:38).

Repentance is a change of mind about sin, about God, about

Jesus Christ, and consequently about the Spirit, the Third Per-

son of the heavenly trio. It is a change of mind from rebellion

against God and rejection of Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. A

person unwilling to let the Spirit abide within and rule one's

deeds, words, and thoughts changes through repentance and

becomes willing to accept the Spirit as an indwelling Guest. The

convert decides to let the Spirit direct him in all his decisions

and choices. No longer does he insist on having his own way,

but constantly he consults his Guest, who is the Ambassador of

King Jesus. Then he follows His suggestions. He does this, not

reluctantly, but gladly and willingly. It becomes his joy to accept

His promptings, as it is a joy for a lover to carry out the wishes of

his beloved.

What Bible personality is an apt illustration of a change from

obdurate rebelliousness against God to ready obedience?

Acts 9:6 (first part); Rom. 1:1; Phil. 3:7, 8.

In some of his epistles, Paul introduces himself as a servant.

This word is translated from the Greek word

doulos

which

means "one bound"; and hence a "bond-servant" or a "slave."

The apostle Paul, in designating himself a slave, does not

imply that he is an unwilling slave of Jesus. Rather, he is trying

to tell us that he has chosen to subordinate all his plans, wishes,

and desires to the will of God. When we fully yield ourselves to

God, we shall likewise let the Spirit rule in all we do.

"Through his long term of service, Paul had never faltered in

his allegiance to his Saviour. Wherever he was—whether before

scowling Pharisees, or Roman authorities; before the furious

mob at Lystra, or the convicted sinners in the Macedonian

dungeon; whether reasoning with the panic-stricken sailors on

the shipwrecked vessel, or standing alone before Nero to plead

for his life—he had never been ashamed of the cause he was

advocating. The one great purpose of his Christian life had been

to serve Him whose name had once filled him with

contempt."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

p. 500.



THINK IT THROUGH



Is there any unrepented or unforsaken sin or evil habit that

keeps me from being filled with the Holy Spirit?



FURTHER STUDY



Christian Service,

pp. 252, 253.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 6



❑

Tuesday

November 7

Part 3



"We are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the

OBEDIENCE AND Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him"

THE SPIRIT (Acts 5:32).

As this text suggests, obedience is one of the prerequisites for

receiving the Holy Spirit. As long as a person knowingly and

willfully disobeys God, he cannot claim the baptism of the Holy

Spirit.

If he does make such a claim, it may be that he has received a

counterfeit spirit. A counterfeit is bewilderingly like the genuine

in appearance. As a matter of fact, many people are constantly

duped by counterfeits.

What happens when an individual has received the Spirit,

but then turns away from God in disobedience? 1 Sam. 16:14;

(Compare 1 Sam. 10:6, 9, 10; 11:6.)

When Saul was called to the kingly office in Israel and

anointed as king by Samuel, he had a humble opinion about

himself (1 Sam. 9:21). "Had he remained humble, seeking con-

stantly to be guided by divine wisdom, he would have been

enabled to discharge the duties of his high position with suc-

cess and honor. Under the influence of divine grace every good

quality would have been gaining strength, while evil tendencies

would have lost their power."—Patriarchs

and Prophets,

pp.

632, 633.

"Saul turned away from the reproof sent him by God's Holy

Spirit.... He could not receive divine help or guidance until he

should return to God by confession of his

sin."—Patriarchs and

Prophets,

pp. 633, 634.

THINK IT THROUGH

Is it true that one little disregard of a "Thus saith the Lord" is

sufficient to stop the blessing of the Holy Spirit?

"Yet with the sin of Saul and its result before us, how many are

pursuing a similar course. While they refuse to believe and obey

some requirement of the Lord, they persevere in offering up to

God their formal services of religion. There is no response of the

Spirit of God to such service. No matter how zealous men may

be in their observance of religious ceremonies, the Lord cannot

accept them if they persist in willful violation of one of His

commands."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

p. 634.

"Those who have put on Christ by baptism, by this act show-

ing their separation from the world and that they have

covenanted to walk in newness of life, should not set up idols in

their

hearts."—Testimonies,

vol. 3, p. 365.

FURTHER STUDY



Patriarchs and Prophets,

pp. 632-634.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 6



❑

Wednesday

November 8



Part 4



What rhetorical question did the apostle Paul address to the

FAITH AND Galatians?

THE SPIRIT

"Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by

works of the law, or by hearing with faith?" (Gal. 3:2, RSV).

The Galatians had seen the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus

regarding the Spirit in their lives. This had been a result of their

faith.

How is living, saving faith recognized? Gal. 5:5, 6.

Faith according to the Bible is not mere theory, but a knowl-

edge of the truth implemented. The faith that results in receiving

the Spirit is faith in Jesus, because the Spirit is the gift of Jesus.

"Those who see Christ in His true character, and receive Him

into the heart, have everlasting life. It is through the Spirit that

Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, received into the heart

by faith, is the beginning of the life eternal."—The

Desire of

Ages,

p. 388.

Of the occasion when the disciples were unable to heal the

demon-possessed boy, Ellen White wrote: "Instead of

strengthening their faith by prayer and meditation on the words

of Christ, they had been dwelling on their discouragements and

personal grievances. In this state of darkness they had under-

taken the conflict with Satan.

"In order to succeed in such a conflict they must come to the

work in a different spirit. Their faith must be strengthened by

fervent prayer and fasting, and humiliation of heart. They must

be emptied of self, and be filled with the Spirit and power of

God. Earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith—faith

that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved

consecration to His work—can alone avail to bring men the Holy

Spirit's aid in the battle against principalities and powers, the

rulers of the darkness of this world, and wicked spirits in high

places."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 431.



THINK IT THROUGH



Is my faith so virile that it produces action, or is it so cheap

that it demands or costs nothing?

"Faith is trusting God—believing that He loves us and knows

best what is for our

good."—Education,

p. 253. It is taking God

at His word.

"By the Spirit every sincere prayer is indited, and such prayer

is acceptable to God. Wherever a soul reaches out after God,

there the Spirit's working is manifest, and God will reveal Him-

self to that soul. For such worshipers He is seeking. He waits to

receive them and to make them His sons and daughters."—My

Life Today,

p. 46.



FURTHER STUDY



Testimonies,

vol. 6, p. 444; vol. 7, pp. 211, 212.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 6



❑

Thursday

November 9



Part 5



"The Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me?

AN ILLUS- speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward."



TRATION OF



"And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the

FAITH Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that

night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon

the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their

right hand, and on their left" (Ex. 14:15, 21, 22).

The baptism of the Holy Spirit results from faith in Jesus. Only

the faith that controls the thoughts and actions is adequate to

the reception of the Spirit. The story of Israel at the Red Sea is an

illustration of the genuine faith required for the Spirit's baptism.

"The Hebrews were encamped beside the sea, whose waters

presented a seemingly impassable barrier before them, while

on the south a rugged mountain obstructed their further prog-

ress. Suddenly they beheld in the distance the flashing armor

and moving chariots betokening the advance guard of a great

army. As the force drew nearer, the hosts of Egypt were seen in

full pursuit. Terror filled the hearts of Israel. . . .

"True, there was no possibility of deliverance unless God

Himself should interpose for their [Israel's] release; but having

been brought into this position in obedience to the divine direc-

tion, Moses felt no fear of the consequences."—Patriarchs

and

Prophets,

pp. 283, 284.

What was the fate of the pursuing Egyptians? Ex. 14:27, 28.

To escape death

the

Israelites had to take God at His word and

go forward. To be eternally saved we shall also have to take God

at His word.



THINK IT THROUGH



What does faith mean to me? Is it possibly as simple as

taking God at His word?

"Often the Christian life is beset by dangers, and duty seems

hard to perform. The imagination pictures impending ruin be-

fore and bondage or death behind. Yet the voice of God speaks

clearly, 'Go forward.' We should obey this command, even

though our eyes cannot penetrate the darkness, and we feel the

cold waves about our feet. The obstacles that hinder our prog-

ress will never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit.

Those who defer obedience till every shadow of uncertainty

disappears and there remains no risk of failure or defeat, will

never obey at

all."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

p. 290.



FURTHER STUDY



Exodus 14;

Patriarchs and Prophets,

pp. 283-287, 290.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 6



❑

Friday

November 10

Part 6

"FILLED WITH

THE SPIRIT"

With what did the apostle Paul tell the Ephesian believers

that they ought to be filled?

"Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with

the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18).

Paul's desire for the Ephesians is not an arbitrary command;

rather it is something within their own choice, something that

the apostle urges his converts to choose to comply with. He

urges that the Ephesians not be dominated or ruled by narcotic

intoxication, but that they be filled with the "spiritual en-

thusiasm of the human spirit energized by the Holy Spirit."—

SDA Bible Commentary,

vol. 6, p. 1034.

With what other kind of spirits may a person also be filled

and directed? Matt. 8:16.

It depends on a person's choice by what power he is to be

ruled or directed.

With what was Jesus filled? Luke 4:1; Acts 10:38.

Of Jesus, Ellen G. White says: "Daily He received a fresh

baptism of the Holy Spirit"—Christ's

Object Lessons,

p. 139.1t is

evident from this statement that baptism here does not refer to

the initial infilling. It rather refers to a repeated endowment.

Throughout her writings Ellen White uses the phrase "baptized

with the Spirit" in the sense of being filled with the Spirit, as she

does in this reference about Jesus daily being baptized or filled

with the Spirit. To be filled with or daily baptized by the Spirit

demands complete submission on the part of the individual.



THINK IT THROUGH



Do I personally have the assurance that the Spirit lives in

me and rules my life, my deeds, and my thoughts? Have I

yielded to Him? How completely?

"God desires to refresh His people by the gift of the Holy

Spirit, baptizing them anew in His love. There is no need for a

dearth of the Holy Spirit in the church. After Christ's ascension,

the Holy Spirit came upon the waiting, praying, believing disci-

ples with a fulness and power that reached every heart. In the

future the earth is to be . . . encircled with an atmosphere of

grace. The Holy Spirit is to work on human hearts, taking things

of God and showing them unto

men."—Christian Service,

250.

"We are living in the time of the Holy Spirit's power. It is

seeking to diffuse itself through the agency of humanity, thus

increasing its influence in the

world."—Christian Service,

251.



FURTHER STUDY



Christian Service,

pp. 254, 255.

7/sifts

of the

Holm Spirit

LESSON 7 November 12-18

"Now concerning spiritual gifts,

brethren, I would not have you

ignorant."

"Now there are diversities of gifts,

but the same Spirit" (1 Cor.

12:1, 4).

The Spirit is one, but the gifts or the

manifestations of the Spirit are many

and diverse. These gifts of grace or

charismata

are presented primarily in

three different passages in the Bible,

namely, in Romans 12:4-8, First

Corinthians 12 through 14, and

Ephesians 4:7-13. Probably even these

enumerations, taken together, are not

exhaustive but rather illustrative of

spiritual endowments. These gifts

were vouchsafed to the church when

Jesus ascended to heaven (Eph.

8,11).

No one individual in the church

should expect to receive all the gifts of

the Spirit. Neither should all the

members expect to receive the same

and identical gift or gifts. The New

Testament likens the church, in which

the manifestations of the Spirit

appear, to the human body.

All the different organs and limbs in

the body together compose the

whole. So all the different gifts of the

Spirit will be found in different church

members who together make up the

church.

In the church of God a member,

endowed with a specific gift of the

Spirit, will not disdain or look down

upon another member because he

does not possess that same gift.

"There are different ways of serving,

but the same Lord is served. There are

different abilities to

perform service,

but the same God gives ability to

everyone for their particular service.

The Spirit's presence is shown in some

way in each person for the good of all"

(1 Cor. 12:5-7, TEV).

All members in the church will work

together in unity for the good of the

whole church. "The animating Spirit

of God, working through human

agencies, leads the believers to be of

one mind, one soul, unitedly loving

God and keeping His

commandments--preparing here

below for translation.'—Ellen G.

White Comments,

SDA Bible

Commentary, vol. 7,

p: 984.

Because it is essential to impress

upon all church members the concept

of the unity of the entire church as a

body, Ellen White admonishes: "The

12th and 13th chapters of 1st

Corinthians should be committed to

memory, written in mind and

heart."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible Commentary,

vol. 6,

p. 1090.

In this lesson some of the gifts of the

Spirit will be noted.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

The Church as the Body

(1 Cor. 12:13, 27)

Widsom, Knowledge, and Faith

(1 Cor. 12:8, 9 first part)

Miracles and Healings

(1 Cor. 12:8-10)

Prophecy and Government

(1 Cor. 12:28)

Tongues and Their Interpretations

(1 Cor. 12:8-10)

Helps or "Helpers"

(1 Cor. 12:28)

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 7



❑

Sunday

November 12

Part 1

THE CHURCH

AS THE BODY

THINK IT THROUGH

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether

we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have

been all made to drink into one Spirit."

"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular"

(1 Cor. 12:13, 27).

Through the Spirit we have been born again and become

members of the body of Christ. Through the rite of baptism by

immersion we then joined a local church. However, the mem-

bers of the body of Christ, or of the church, are no more alike

than are the different organs of the body. Nevertheless, just as

all the organs are part of the same body and serve a very definite

purpose in it, the church we have joined will not be complete or

constitute a body without all its different members.

What different gifts does the apostle Paul mention are to be

found in the body of the church? 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28.

"Christian unity is a mighty agency. It tells in a powerful

manner that those who possess it are children of God. It has an

irresistible influence upon the world, showing that man in his

humanity may be a partaker of the divine nature, having es-

caped the corruption that is in the world through lust. We are to

be one with our fellow men and with Christ, and in Christ one

with God. Then of us can be spoken the words, 'Ye are complete

in Him.'

"—My Life Today,

p. 276.

What Is the purpose for these different gifts in the church?

Eph. 4:12, 13.

"In the plan of redemption a place is allotted to every soul. To

each man is given his work.... The work of God's people may

and will be varied, but one Spirit is the mover in it all. All the work

done for

the

Master is to be connected with the great whole. The

workers are to labor together in concert, each one controlled by

divine power, putting forth undivided effort to draw those

around them to Christ. All must move like parts of a well-

adjusted machinery, each part dependent on the other part, yet

standing distinct in action. And each one is to take the place

assigned him and do the work appointed him. God calls upon

the members of His church to receive the Holy Spirit, to come

together in unity and brotherly sympathy, to bind their interests

together in love."—My

Life Today,

p. 276.

How clearly do I recognize that all the members of God's

church are part of the body of Christ and essential to its

unimpaired completeness?

FURTHER STUDY



Testimonies,

vol. 5, pp. 236-238.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 7



❑

Monday

November 13



Part 2



"For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to

WISDOM, another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another

KNOWLEDGE, faith by the same Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:8, 9 first part).

AND FAITH

In mass production manufacturing many of one kind of article

are made. Each one of a certain model looks like others of the

same model. It is easier to do this than to make each one

different. God, on the other hand, makes no two things alike. Of

the thousands of leaves on a tree the botanist tells us that every

leaf is different. Of the untold millions or billions of snow crys-

tals, beautifying the snowscape on a crisp, moonlit winter night,

no two are alike. They are all different. God uses no assembly

lines. His creative capability is sufficient to make each thing

different. Man on the other hand prefers the assembly line, not

only because it reduces the cost of production but because it's

much easier than thinking up new forms. God is limited neither

by lack of ideas or cost.

On a small scale God follows this pattern in His dealings with

His church. He does not give all members the same gifts; He

gives them different gifts but by the same Spirit.

What contrasting kinds of wisdom does Paul point out?

1 Cor. 2:5-7

In Athens Paul had tried to meet "eloquence with eloquence,

philosophy with philosophy, and logic with logic; but he failed

to meet with success he had hoped for. His aftersight led him to

understand that there was something needed above human

wisdom.... In order to convict and convert sinners, the Spirit of

God must come into his work and sanctify every spiritual

development."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible Com-

mentary,

vol. 6, p. 1084.

The wisdom Paul consequently refers to in First Corinthians

2:7 is identified as acquaintance with the plan of salvation;

knowledge is used in the traditional Hebrew meaning of obe-

dient acknowledgment of God's will. Both endowments—

wisdom and knowledge in this sense—are gifts of the Spirit.

Faith, as a gift of the Spirit, is complete trust in God and His

bidding, with consequent surrender or committal to God's plan

for salvation.

"The Holy Spirit ... takes the things of God and reveals them

to every soul that has an implicit faith in Christ.... As we study

the Scriptures, we should pray for the light of God's Holy Spirit

to shine upon the word, that we may see and appreciate its

treasures."—Christ's

Object Lessons,

p. 113.



FURTHER STUDY



Christ's Object Lessons,

"Hidden Treasure," pp. 112-114.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 7



❑

Tuesday

November 14

Part 3



"To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom . . . ; to

MIRACLES another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the

AND HEALINGS working of miracles" (1 Cor. 12:8-10).

The gifts of the Spirit will remain in the church until Jesus

returns. This includes the gift of healing, as well as the gift of

working of miracles. Since man's extremity is God's opportun-

ity, we do not regard it as appropriate for a Christian to refuse

medical help, expecting God to heal a person's disease by a

miracle without his having done anything to remedy the condi-

tion. God does not use miracles extravagantly or uselessly.

"What human power can do divine power is not summoned to

do."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 535.

By what power did Jesus perform His miracles of healing?

Matt. 12:28.

"Physical healing is bound up with the gospel commission.

When Christ sent His disciples out on their first missionary

journey, He bade them, 'As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom

of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the

dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.'

Matthew 10:7,

8."—Counsels on Health,

p. 497.

Concerning the exhibition of miracles of healing just prior to

Jesus' return, Ellen White says: "Servants of God, with their

faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten

from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By

thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be

given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and

signs and wonders will follow the believers."—The

Great Con-

troversy,

p. 612.

How are God's true followers to know if the miracles ema-

nate from God or from the evil one? 1 John 4:1; Isa. 8:20.

In certain quarters of Christendom miracles and the gift of

tongues are considered indispensable evidence that a believer

is a child of God or has been baptized with the Spirit. But the

Bible nowhere affirms that the gift of tongues, the working of

miracles, or other signs must necessarily be the evidence of

faith. Holiness alone is the one biblical indispensable for seeing

God (Heb. 12:14). Holiness is not an option. It is essential.

Seeing the Lord depends on holiness or conformity to God's

will, not on one's ability to perform miracles.

THINK IT THROUGH

FURTHER STUDY

In the near future, as miracles are performed by persons

who reject and deny biblical truth, will I still remain loyal to

God's word, or will I be overwhelmed by the evidence of my

senses?

The Great Controversy,

pp. 624, 625.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 7



❑

Wednesday

November 15

Part 4



"God has appointed in the church ... prophets ... adminis-

PROPHECY AND trators" (1 Cor. 12:28, RSV).

GOVERNMENT

(Compare verse 10; Eph. 4:11; Romans 12:6-8.)

A prophet is a spokesman for God. Even after ancient Israel

became a monarchy, it was the prophet who received messages

and instruction from God. These he was to convey to the king.

The prophet consequently is God's spokesman to the people, as

the priest is man's spokesman to God. The content of his mes-

sage is not primarily predictive, but may be any message which

God desires to give His people at any particular time, whether it

pertains to the past, the present, or the future. The church of

God today, as in days of old, needs instruction from God. The

principal agent by which this instruction is given is the prophet.

We believe this gift was manifested in Ellen G. White.

In addition to prophets who receive Instruction from God,

what is needed in the church to execute the relayed divine

plans in efficient administration? 1 Cor. 12:28.

The Revised Standard Version translates "administrators"

instead of "governments." Although the gospel work is God's,

some human agent must direct it under God's guidance.

What instances in the apostolic church indicate that God

works through appointed agencies in His organized church?

Acts 13:1-3; 9:10-17.

"The circumstances connected with the separation of Paul

and Barnabas by the Holy Spirit to a definite line of service show

clearly that the Lord works through appointed agencies in His

organized church. Years before, when the divine purpose con-

cerning Paul was first revealed to him by the Saviour Himself,

Paul was immediately afterward brought into contact with

members of the newly organized church at. Damascus.. .. And

now, when the divine commission given at that time was to be

more fully carried out, the Holy Spirit, again bearing witness

concerning Paul as a chosen vessel to bear the gospel to the

Gentiles, laid upon the church the work of ordaining him and his

fellow laborer."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

pp. 162, 163.

THINK IT THROUGH

Why has God committed the direction of His work on earth to

His church rather than primarily laying the burden on solitary

individuals?

"God has made His church on the earth a channel of light, and

through it He communicates His purposes and His will."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

p. 163.

FURTHER STUDY



The Acts of the Apostles,

pp. 160-165.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 7



❑

Thursday

November 16



Part 5



"To one is given by the Spirit ... divers kinds of tongues; to

TONGUES another the interpretation of tongues" (1 Cor. 12:8-10).

AND THEIR



INTERPRETATIONS



The author of these lessons believes that "tongues" here

denotes foreign languages, since that was clearly the way the

gift was manifested at Pentecost and on subsequent recorded

occasions. (See Acts 2; 10:44-46; 11:15; 19:6.)

What did God miraculously give to the apostles at Pentecost

and afterward? Acts 2:46.

In the early church there was a need for the gift of tongues, or

a mastery of foreign languages. The gospel had to be communi-

cated to the world, and most of the post-ascension Christians

did not possess a command of foreign languages.

"The Jews had been scattered to almost every nation, and

spoke various languages.... This diversity of languages was a

great obstacle to the labors of God's servants in publishing the

doctrine of Christ to the uttermost parts of the earth. That God

should supply the deficiency of the apostles in a miraculous

manner was to the people the most perfect confirmation of the

testimony of these witnesses for Christ."—The

Story of Re-

demption,

pp. 242, 243.

"From this time forth the language of the disciples was pure,

simple, and accurate in word and accent, whether they spoke

their native tongue or a foreign language. These humble men,

who had never learned in the school of the prophets, presented

truths so elevated and pure as to astonish those who heard

them."—The

Story of Redemption,

p. 246.

Who spoke more often in tongues than anyone else? 1 Cor.

14:18.

In his evangelization among the heathen Paul constantly had

to use a tongue other than his native Aramaic—the common

language of the Jews in the day of Jesus and the apostles.

Corinth was a large seaport and commercial city with people

from many parts of the Roman Empire. In the view of the author

there were some in the Corinthian Church who boastfully used

languages that some other members could not readily under-

stand. Paul admonished them not to do so, unless they had an

interpreter, since no one in the congregation, other than the

speaker, could be edified by it. (See 1 Cor. 14:4.)



THINK IT THROUGH



Do I covet someone else's gift rather than being willing to

utilize my own to God's glory?



FURTHER STUDY



Counsels to Teachers,

pp. 243-245.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 7



❑

Friday

November 17

Part 6



"God has appointed in the church ... helpers" (1 Cor. 12:28,

HELPS OR RSV).

"HELPERS"

"This gift is generally understood to be the ability conferred

on those who perform the office of a deacon in the church,

particularly as that office calls for ministering to the needs of the

poor and the sick. This is a work that may not be given as much

publicity as some of the other gifts, but it is nonetheless an

important phase of church life. To be able to visit the sick and

give them real sympathetic, understanding help, both physi-

cally and spiritually, is a powerful means of turning hearts to the

Saviour. Caring for the poor and needy by relieving their mate-

rial lack can be done satisfactorily only by those who are led by

the Spirit. This is a most fruitful ministry."—SDA

Bible Com-

mentary,

vol. 6, p. 776.

This gift of the Spirit may appear unimportant. Nevertheless

God has appointed it as essential for the well-being of the

church and community and as a manifestation that His Spirit

directs the activities of the church.

How do the prophet Isaiah and the apostle James Indicate

the importance of this work? Isa. 58:6, 7; James 1:27.

"The reason why God's people are not more spiritually

minded, and have not more faith, I have been shown, is because

they are narrowed up with selfishness. The prophet is address-

ing Sabbathkeepers, not sinners, not unbelievers, but those

who make great pretensions to godliness. It is not the abun-

dance of your meetings that God accepts. It is not the numerous

prayers, but the rightdoing, doing the right thing and at the right

time. It is to be less self-caring and more benevolent. Our souls

must

expand."—Testimonies,

vol. 2. p. 36.

THINK IT THROUGH

Would I rather be head elder or Sabbath School superin-

tendent in the church than a member of the welfare team? If

so, why is one position more dignified and elevated In my

eyes?

"At the last day the final decision by the Judge of all the earth

will turn upon our interest in, and practical labor for, the needy,

the oppressed, the tempted. You cannot always pass these by

on the other side and yourselves find entrance as redeemed

sinners into the city of God. 'Inasmuch,' says Christ, 'as ye did it

not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me.'

"—

Testimonies,

vol. 5, p. 612.

FURTHER STUDY



Testimonies,

vol. 2, pp. 33-35.

8/twe fruit err

the H



plait

LESSON 8 November 19-25

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,

peace, longsuffering, gentleness,

goodness, faith, meekness,

temperance: against such there is no

law' (Gal. 5:22, 23).

The fruit of the Spirit is God's gift to

the church. But the Spirit Himself is

God's great gift to the believer. "All

'_good things' are comprised in this.

The Creator Himself can give us

nothing greater, nothing

better."—Thoughts

From the Mount

of Blessing,

p. 132. The Holy Spirit

manifests Himself in Christian

character traits. The apostle speaks of

them in the singular as "fruit" .rather

than "fruits" and contrasts the fruit of

the Spirit with the works—plural—of

the flesh in verses 19-21. The use of the

singular for the Christian traits stems

from the fact that all are to be present

in the life of the Christian. He isn't

bearing fruit if one is missing, whereas

it is only necessary for one of the evil

traits to be present for one to produce

the "works of the flesh."

Paul recognized this in his own

experience. Before conversion there

had been turmoil, confusion, and

conflicting desires in his mind. But

with his commitment to God, unity

and oneness of purpose took

possession. From having been

fragmented with many sins, his life

now became dominated by one

motive—the service and glory of God

under the direction of the Spirit. The

Spirit brought unity, though

many-faceted, into his life. This

oneness in his committal to God

produced the fruit of the Spirit. The

different traits mentioned here as fruit

of the Spirit are but facets of divine

love. Jesus said, "Herein is my Father

glorified, that ye bear much fruit"

(John 15:8).

"The fruit we bear is the only test of

the character of the tree before the

world. . . .

"The best evidence that you are in

Christ is the fruit you bear."

—Testimonies,

vol. 5, p. 348.

Unrepentant sinners have no taste

for the fruit of the Spirit. The leaders of

the Jews even crucified Jesus and

arrested the apostles for doing good.

In times of war society often declares

the fruit of the Spirit to be forbidden

fruit. But Christian liberty, to which

the followers of Jesus have been

called, will of necessity exhibit this

fruit. These qualities flow from a life

surrendered to God and led by the

Spirit. All the evil desires of the human

heart—of the flesh—have been

crucified with Christ. These are left

behind when Jesus rules in the heart

and mind of His child through the

Spirit. This is the Christian freedom to

which Jesus has called His own.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Love

(Gal. 5:22)

joy and Peace

(Gal. 5:22)

Long-suffering

(Gal. 5:22)

Gentleness and Goodness

(Gal. 5:22)

Faith

(Gal. 5:22)

Meekness and Temperance

(Gal. 5:22, 23)

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 8



❑

Sunday

November 19

Part 1



"The fruit of the Spirit Is love" (Gal. 5:22).

LOVE

"What a wonderful portrayal! The paramount fruit of the Spirit

is love. All that follow are but aspects of this divine quality. Just

as various colors make up sunlight, so these graces together

constitute

love."—Questions on Doctrine,

p. 115.

A deciduous, live tree in the temperate zone inevitably and

spontaneously produces leaves in the spring as the sap begins

to rise in the trunk and reaches out into

every branch and twig.

In the same way a live Christian, filled with the Spirit, will pro-

duce the fruit of the Spirit—love.

What is found in Christ's followers as Jesus lives out His life

in them? John 15:4, 5; 17:26.

Jesus is God. As there is no life apart from God, so there is no

love or virtue apart from God. If man is going to possess and

manifest divine love, he must receive it from God. There is no

other source. "As the moon and the stars [planets] of our solar

system shine by the reflected light of the sun, so, as far as their

teaching is true, do the world's great thinkers reflect the rays of

the Sun of Righteousness. Every gleam of thought, every flash

of the intellect, is from the Light of the world

."—Education,

p. 14.

By what agency does the apostle Paul in his letter to the

Romans say we become possessors of love? Rom. 5:5.

THINK IT THROUGH



What is my concept of perfect love? Is my love so unselfish

that It claims nothing in return, or does it demand mutuality or

a desire for love in return?

"How many are deficient in love! 0, that love might eradicate

from the heart hatred, emulation, and strife, and the root of

bitterness, whereby many are defiled. Never can the love of

Jesus be received and shed abroad in the heart until envious

feelings, hatred, jealousies, and evil surmisings are put away....

"Pure love is simple in its operations, and separate from every

other principle of action. When combined with earthly motives

and selfish interests, it ceases to be pure. God considers more

with how much love we work, than the amount we do. Love is a

heavenly attribute. The natural heart cannot originate it. This

heavenly plant only flourishes where Christ reigns supreme.

Where love exists, there is power and truth in the life. Love does

good, and nothing but good. Those who have love bear fruit

unto holiness, and in the end everlasting life."—Sons

and

Daughters of God,

p. 49.

FURTHER STUDY



First Corinthians 13;

Steps to Christ, "God's

Love for Man,"

pp. 9-15.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 8



❑

Monday

November 20

Part 2



"The fruit of the Spirit is love, Joy, peace" (Gal. 5:22).

JOY AND

PEACE



Joy is exulting love while peace is love in repose. Both as-

pects of love will be found in the genuine Christian.

As the apostles were filled with the Spirit, how did they

regard even persecution and beatings for Christ's sake? Acts

5:40, 41. (See also 4:31.)

When we suffer some inconvenience for being followers of

God or for our obedience to Him, how do we react? Do we

complain about the discriminations we are exposed to, or do we

rejoice? The apostles even thanked God that they were ac-

counted worthy to suffer beatings for their loyalty to Jesus. Is it

possible that our complaints and murmurings are symptomatic

of our lack of the infilling of the Spirit? Do you want your life to

be filled with joy? As under the influence of the Spirit you

cultivate thankfulness, you will discover that gratitude and

thankfulness compose the soil out of which joy grows.

What other quality, mentioned next after joy, characterizes

a believer in whom the Spirit abides? Gal. 5:22.

THINK IT THROUGH

Peace does not depend on externals. If our peace depends on

circumstances and environment, then we may be continuously

victimized. There is no true peace for such a person. A Chris-

tian's peace is based on his oneness with God. Ellen White

writes concerning Jesus:

"In the heart of Christ, where reigned perfect harmony with

God, there was perfect peace. He was never elated by applause,

nor dejected by censure or disappointment. Amid the greatest

opposition and the most cruel treatment, He was still of good

courage."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 330.

How can I enjoy both peace and joy even when I occasion-

ally suffer abuse for being a follower of Jesus?

"Like love, 'joy' . . . has to do with God when we are glad

because of His divine mercy and even in the midst of the world's

storms praise and bless the Lord in the fiery furnace day and

night. But it has to do with our neighbor when we are not

envious of his goods but wish him joy in them as though they

were our own and praise the gifts of God that he has."—Luther,

Luther's Works,

vol. 27, p. 374.

"Wherever His Spirit reigns, there peace abides. And there

will be joy also, for there is a calm, holy trust in God."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 153.

FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pp. 302-306.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 8



❑

Tuesday

November 21



Part 3



"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering"

LONG-SUFFERING (Gal. 5:22).

Long-suffering is untiring love and manifests itself in the

Christian's relationship with other people.

"Long-suffering bears something, yea, many things, without

seeking to be avenged by word or act.

"'Long-suffering' is patience with offence; long endurance.

If you are long-suffering, you will not impart to others your

supposed knowledge of your brother's mistakes and errors.

You will seek to help and save him. because he has been pur-

chased with the blood of Christ.... To be long-suffering is not to

be gloomy and sad, sour and hardhearted; it is to be exactly the

opposite."—My

Life Today,

p. 52.

Long-suffering is rooted in complete confidence that God

loves us and is leading us to the goal of ultimate salvation in His

kingdom. Thus we are able even to endure wrongs without any

thought of personal vengeance.

Who is ultimately the source of our long-suffering? Ex. 34:6;

Rom. 2:4.

"The God whom we serve is long-suffering; 'His compassions

fail not.' Lamentations 3:22. Throughout the period of pro-

bationary time His Spirit is entreating men to accept the gift of

life."—Prophets and Kings,

pp. 325, 326.

What does the development of long-suffering on the part of

the Christian presuppose? Col. 1:10-12.

"Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, faith and char-

ity are the elements of the Christian character. These precious

graces are the fruits of the Spirit. They are the Christian's crown

and shield. . . . Nothing can give more perfect content and

satisfaction."—Sons

and Daughters of God,

p. 32.



THINK IT THROUGH



Is there a limit to God's long-suffering? If so, what brings it

about?

"When He leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabi-

tants of the earth. In that fearful time the righteous must live in

the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. The restraint

which has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has

entire control of the finally impenitent. God's long-suffering has

ended. The world has rejected His mercy, despised His love, and

trampled upon His law. The wicked have passed the boundary

of their probation; the Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has

been at last withdrawn."—The

Great Controversy,

p. 614.



FURTHER STUDY



Testimonies,

vol. 2, pp. 134, 135.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 8



❑

Wednesday

November 22



Part 4



"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering,

GENTLENESS gentleness, goodness" (Gal. 5:22).

AND GOODNESS

"We want a spirit of gentleness. We cannot live right in the

family circle without it. In order to have the proper control of our

children, we must manifest a spirit of gentleness and of meek-

ness and of long-suffering. We do not want to have a faultfind-

ing, fretful, scolding spirit. If we teach them to have a spirit of

gentleness, we must have a spirit of gentleness ourselves. . . .

But at the same time there need be no weakness or unwise

indulgence on the part of parents. The mother must have firm-

ness and decision. She must be as firm as a rock, and not swerve

from the right. Her laws and rules should be carried out at all

times and under all hazards, but she can do this with all gentle-

ness and meekness."—My

Life Today,

p. 53.

How did Jacob, on his return to Canaan, show gentleness

toward the members of his family and toward his flocks? Gen.

33:14.

It would have been both safer and more convenient for Jacob

and his caravan to travel with Esau and his 400 men of war. After

all, they were traveling through a country infested with robbers.

But Jacob declined Esau's offer, not because he was thinking

primarily of his own welfare, convenience, and safety, but be-

cause he remembered the young children as well as the cattle,

which could not endure such strenuous marches as could the

soldiers and the men. Jacob was gentle with them.

What facet in the fruit of the Spirit does the apostle Paul

mention as following gentleness? Gal. 5:22.

The apostle, in enumerating the facets of the fruit of the Spirit,

does not list them in any succession of development, as does

Peter in his enumeration of Christian virtues in Second Peter

1:5-7. If they were to be enumerated in developmental se-

quence, gentleness would logically spring from goodness and

thus be listed after goodness rather than before.

"True goodness is accounted of Heaven as true greatness.

The condition of the moral affections determines the worth of

the man. A person may have property and intellect, and yet be

valueless, because the glowing fire of goodness has never

burned upon the altar of his heart."—My

Life Today,

p. 54.



THINK IT THROUGH



Is It possible to be good and kind but not gentle? Have we as

Christians learned, not only to be good, but also to be gentle?



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pp. 435-437.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

LESSON 8



❑

Thursday

November 23



Part 5



"The fruit of the Spirit Is love, joy, peace, long-suffering,

FAITH gentleness, goodness, faith" (Gal. 5:22).

"Faith" and "belief" or "believe" are basically translated

from the same original Greek root. Faith and belief are always

used in the singular form, never in the plural. Faith involves

complete trust that leads to unreserved surrender or commit-

ment to the one loved and to his plans. This faith or trust is

illustrated in the marital union of two people, where faith or trust

leads each to surrender his individual will for the benefit of

the

other. So faith—living faith—in God will lead to surrender to

Him and to His will and plans.

Faith is the spontaneous result of love or, as part of the fruit of

the Spirit, it is one aspect of love. Faith is love in confidence.

What does the apostle Paul say about the relationship of

faith to love In his great chapter on love? 1 Cor. 13:13.

Love—charity—is greater than faith, because love is the

foundation of faith. There can be no true living faith without an

underpinning of love.

An alleged faith that does not lead to surrender to God's will is

not genuine but Satan's counterfeit for faith. No living or saving

faith is merely theoretical. Rather it is always experimental and

leads to action.

How does faith "work" according to Paul? Gal. 5:6.

"The only true faith is that which 'worketh by love' (Galatians

5:6) to purify the soul. It is as leaven that transforms the

character."—Thoughts

From the Mount of Blessing,

p. 53.

Does the great faith chapter present abstract and theoreti-

cal faith or experimental faith? Read Hebrews 11.

"It was Caleb's faith that gave him courage, that kept him

from the fear of man, and enabled him to stand boldly and

unflinchingly in the defense of the right. Through reliance on

the same Power, the mighty General of the armies of heaven,

every true soldier of the cross may receive strength and courage

to overcome the obstacles that seem insurmountable."—Ellen

G. White Comments,

SDA Bible Commentary, vol.

1, p. 1113.



THINK IT THROUGH



Do I dare scrutinize the genuineness of my faith by my

readiness, or unwillingness, to surrender my life with all my

plans to God? (Read

Steps to Christ,

pp. 69, 70.)



FURTHER STUDY



Education,

pp. 253-255;

The Desire of Ages,

p. 347.



The Fruit of the



Holy Spirit

LESSON 8



❑

Friday

November 24



Part 6



"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering,

MEEKNESS AND gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Gal.

TEMPERANCE 5:22, 23).

"Meekness" does not imply that the person possessing this

quality is to be a doormat for everyone to walk on. Rather

meekness describes one who has learned discipline or is able to

submit to and follow a master's directions. The biblical exam-

ples of meekness—Moses and Jesus among others—rightly

refute a cowardly definition of meekness.

Who does the book of Numbers declare to have been the

meekest of men? Numbers 12:3.

"Moses was a humble man; God called him the meekest man

on earth. He was generous, noble, well-balanced.. .. He could

successfully exhort his fellow-men, because his life itself was a

living representation of what man can become and accomplish

with God as his helper."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible

Commentary, vol.

1, p. 1113.

"Moses was the greatest man who ever stood as leader of the

people of God. He was greatly honored by God, not for the

experience which he had gained in the Egyptian court, but

because he was the meekest of men. God talked with him face to

face, as a man talks with a friend. If men desire to be honored by

God, let them be humble. Those who carry forward God's work

should be distinguished from all others by their humility."—

Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible Commentary, vol.

1, p.

1113.

How did Jesus demonstrate true meekness both In heaven

and on earth? Phil. 2:5-8; John 13:1-17.

What Is the last of the items mentioned by Paul as being part

of the fruit of the Spirit? Gal. 5:23.

Most modern Bible versions translate the Greek word ren-

dered "temperance" in the King James Version as "self-

control." Self-control embraces a wider facet of human charac-

ter than does temperance. Temperance is included in self-

control. Self-control is, in a sense, the capsheaf of character

building. When a person's self-control is placed under the di-

rection of the Spirit, the individual becomes Christlike.



THINK IT THROUGH



"Discipline and control the mental faculties. Self-control is a

power that all may possess. It is gained by placing the will

wholly on the side of God, taking the will of God for your

will."—Our

High Calling,

p. 219.



FURTHER STUDY



Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing,

"The Beatitudes"

(Matthew 5:5), pp. 13-18.

g/The Christian's

Guide •

LESSON 9 November 26 to December 2

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of

truth, is come, he will guide you into

all truth: for he shall not speak of

himself; but whatsoever he shall hear,

that shall he speak: and he will shew

you things to come" (John 16:13).

Through failure to heed the will of

God in Eden, Adam and Eve separated

themselves from Him. Prior to their

eating of the fruit of the forbidden

tree, they associated freely with God

and spoke to Him face-to-face, as man

speaks to man. After sin that was no

longer possible. God, who prior to

their sin had been our first parents'

greatest delight, now became to them

a consuming fire. (See Heb. 12:29.)

But God did not forsake Adam and

Eve after they strayed into

transgression. Though He Himself

could no longer talk to them, He

purposed that His Associate in

Creation, the Holy Spirit, would follow

them constantly and be His Associate

also in man's salvation. He was to

whisper in their ears; He was

repeatedly to suggest the Father's

plans to His straying children.

Neither did God leave His errant

children to try to solve their problems

and perplexities single-handedly. In

the later history of Israel, God did not

forsake His people because they

chose a king, contrary to His will. He

still purposed to speak to their king

and help and guide His people

through His prophets. The prophets

were to convey God's will and plans to

the king, and the king was to

implement God's will among Israel.

The Spirit is a gift from God to man.

Without the death of Jesus for our

sins, there would have been no

salvation for man. But without the

Spirit to guide, regenerate, dwell in

us, and empower us in working out

the salvation wrought for us on

Calvary, there would be no personal

salvation. Jesus and the Spirit are knit

into One to bring man, lost in the

wilderness of transgression, back into

the presence of the Father. It is the

Father's plan to restore, through Jesus

and the Spirit, the peace and harmony

that reigned between God and man

before the entrance of sin.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

The Spirit, A Guide

(John 14:26)

Accepting the Spirit's Guidance

(Rom. 8:4)

The Spirit Guides Through the

Word

(Eph. 6:17)

Guide Amid Persecution

(2 Tim. 3:12; Rev. 12:17)

An Example of the Spirit's Guidance

(Luke 2:2530)

The Spirit Guides to Jesus

(John 16:14)

The Christian's Guide

LESSON 9



❑

Sunday

November 26

Part 1

THE SPIRIT,

A GUIDE

THINK IT THROUGH

"The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father

will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring

all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto

you" (John 14:26).

As an ambassador speaks in the name of his home govern-

ment to a foreign government, so the Spirit will speak to man in

Jesus' name and with His authority. Jesus has perpetuated His

earthly teaching ministry through the Spirit. "The Lord Jesus

acts through the Holy Spirit."—Sons

and Daughters of God,

282.

In addition to teaching what will the Spirit do? John 14:26

(second part).

"It was not until after Christ's ascension to His Father, and the

outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the believers, that the disci-

ples fully appreciated the Saviour's character and mission. After

they had received the baptism of the Spirit, they began to realize

that they had been in the very presence of the Lord of glory. As

the sayings of Christ were brought to their remembrance, their

minds were opened to comprehend the prophecies, and to

understand the miracles which He had wrought.... His lessons,

which they had but dimly understood, now came to them as a

fresh revelation. The Scriptures became to them a new

book."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 507.

How does Jesus reiterate this teaching ministry of the Holy

Spirit? John 16:12, 13.

The Spirit is a living, personal teacher. Every time we open the

Bible, it is possible to have the Spirit unveil to us the true

meaning of what we read. Many of us have listened to a capable

teacher, and then said to ourselves, "If I only could have that

teacher instruct me, then I believe I could learn." But stop for a

moment. Anyone of us can have a more competent teacher

every day than any human instructor. The Spirit is the peerless

Teacher. "God can teach you more in one moment by His Holy

Spirit than you could learn from the great men of the earth."—

Testimonies to Ministers,

p. 119.

Am I willing to have the Spirit teach me, or do I refuse to

heed His suggestions?

Read Ephesians 1:17-19. After quoting this passage Ellen

White says, "The ministry of the divine Spirit in enlightening the

understanding and opening to the mind the deep things of

God's holy word, was the blessing which Paul thus besought for

the Ephesian church."—The

Great Controversy,

p. ix.

FURTHER STURY



Testimonies,

vol. 5, pp. 703-705.



The Christian's



Guide

LESSON 9



❑

Monday

November 27



Part 2



"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,

ACCEPTING who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom. 8:4).

THE SPIRIT'S



GUIDANCE



The Christian chooses not to follow his own impulses and

gratify his own inclinations, but to follow instead the biddings of

the Spirit. The dedicated follower of Jesus will never do any-

thing without seeking the advice and guidance of God. "Lord,

what do you want me to do?" is the question the Christian

continually asks. (See Acts 22:10.)

Neither is the Christian to dwell in the realm of mere belief or

theoretical faith. His faith will be experimental rather than

theoretical. Under the guidance of the Spirit the heavenly

mind-set of belief will be poured into the earthly mold of action

and behavior.

How may we know whether or not we are truly children of

God? Rom. 8:14; Matt. 12:50.

Profession or pretense does not make us children of God. But

willing obedience to God's will demonstrates that our faith is

genuine. "Every man, woman, and child that is not under the

control of the Spirit of God is under the influence of Satan's

sorcery."—Messages

to Young People,

p. 278.

What will characterize those who will finally live with God

and the angels? Isa. 1:19; 2 Tim. 4:7, 8; 1 Chron. 28:9.

Obedience to God's will, as good and commendable as it may

be, will not make us fit for heavenly society. "Love to God is the

very foundation of religion. To engage in His service merely

from hope of reward or fear of punishment would avail nothing.

Open apostasy would not be more offensive to God than hypoc-

risy and mere formal

worship."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

523.

THINK IT THROUGH

Do I gladly and lovingly serve God, or do I serve Him grudg-

ingly? Am I happy to do what He asks? to pay my honest tithe?

to keep the Sabbath hours sacred unto the Lord as long as

they last?

"It may take time to attain perfect submission to God's will,

but we can never stop short of it and be fitted for heaven. True

religion will lead its possessor on to perfection. Your thoughts,

your words, and your actions, as well as your appetites and

passions, must be brought into subjection to the will of God.

You must bear fruit unto

holiness."—Testimonies,

vol. 3, p. 538.

FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pp. 467-469.

The Christian's Guide

LESSON 9



❑

Tuesday

November 28

Part 3

THE SPIRIT

GUIDES THROUGH

THE WORD

THINK IT THROUGH

"Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,

which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17).

The Word of God is here called the sword of the Spirit. It was

the Spirit that inspired the written revelation, since "holy men of

God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter

1:21).

What agent or medium does the Spirit use to bring truth to

man? John 17:17; 1 Peter 1:2.

John Calvin admonishes: "We ought zealously to apply our-

selves both to read and to hearken to Scripture if indeed we

want to receive any gain and benefit from the Spirit of God."

Calvin then goes on to point out that even the impressions of

the Holy Spirit must be tested by the Bible. This is doing Him no

injustice, since He is the author of the Bible. "Nevertheless, he is

thus put to a test, I confess, but a test by which it pleased him to

establish his majesty among us.... But lest under his sign the

Spirit of Satan should creep in, he would have us recognize him

in his own image, which he has stamped upon the Scriptures.

He is the Author of the Scriptures: he cannot vary and differ

from himself. Hence he must ever remain just as he once re-

vealed himself there."—John Calvin,

Institutes of the Christian

Religion

I, 9:2 (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960). Used by

permission.

"There is full assurance of hope in believing every word of

Christ, believing in Him, being united to Him by living faith.

When this is his experience, the human being is no longer under

the law, for the law no longer condemns his course of action....

"To them that believe, Christ is precious. His Spirit moving

upon the mind and heart of the believer is in perfect agreement

with that which is written in the Word. The Spirit and the Word

agree perfectly. Thus the Spirit beareth witness with our spirit

that we are born of God."—In

Heavenly Places,

p. 144.

Since the Spirit uses the Scriptures for the perfection of my

character, am I willing to accept and follow the guidance of the

Bible?

"The operations of the Spirit are always in harmony with the

written word. As in the natural, so in the spiritual world. The

natural life is preserved moment by moment by divine power;

yet it is not sustained by a direct miracle, but through the use of

blessings placed within our reach. So the spiritual life is sus-

tained by the use of those means that Providence has

supplied."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

p. 284.

FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pp. vii, viii.



The Christian's



Guide

LESSON 9



❑

Wednesday

November 29



Part 4



What do we know will befall God's faithful people for sure

GUIDE AMID before Jesus returns? 2 Tim. 3:12; Rev. 12:17.

PERSECUTION

In the sunset hours of the world's history before Jesus returns

to gather His elect, His faithful followers will face adversity and

even persecution (see Rev. 13:11-18). Dragged before courts,

those arraigned will "make a strong vindication of the truth, and

some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the

commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before

thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these

truths."—The

Great Controversy,

p. 607.

When Christ's witnesses are brought before legal au-

thorities, who will guide them in their speech?

"When they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye

shall speak: for it shall be given you in the same hour what ye

shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your

Father which speaketh in you" (Mall. 10:19, 20).

Will your courage fail under such conditions? Will your

tongue refuse to speak under such harassment? Without divine

aid, this might well be the case. But as God's witnesses we can

expect that He Himself will be our Helper.

"Persecution will spread the light. The servants of Christ will

be brought before the great men of the world, who, but for this,

might never hear the gospel.... God's grace will be dispensed

to His servants to meet the emergency. 'It shall be given you,'

says Jesus, 'in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye

that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.'

As the Spirit of God illuminates the minds of His servants, the

truth will be presented in its divine power and

preciousness."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 354.

What was Paul's experience when he was imprisoned for

the word of God? 2 Tim. 4:16, 17.

"The advocate of truth; faithful among the faithless, loyal

among the disloyal, he [Paul before Nero] stands as God's

representative, and his voice is as a voice from heaven. There is

no fear, no sadness, no discouragement, in word or look.... His

words are as a shout of victory above the roar of battle."—My

Life Today,

p. 65.



THINK IT THROUGH



What should be my attitude as I look into the future with its

persecution?



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pp. 607-610.



The Christian's



Guide

LESSON 9



❑

Thursday

November 30



Part 5



How did Simeon know when to go to the temple in order to

AN EXAMPLE OF find "the Lord's Christ"?

THE SPIRIT'S



GUIDANCE



"Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was

Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for

the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should

not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he

came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents

brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the

law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and

said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, ac-

cording to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation"

(Luke 2:25-30).

Simeon enjoyed such an intimate relationship with God that

the Spirit told him to go to the temple on the day the child Jesus

was being dedicated. From among the several boys who were

being dedicated to God that day he was led to choose Jesus.

The officiating priest did not recognize Jesus as the promised

Messiah, since He was not susceptible to the promptings of the

Spirit. But Simeon recognized Him because God showed him

who was "the Lord's Christ." Some of the other boys whom

Simeon bypassed might also have been born in Bethlehem as

the firstborn child to mothers who were of the tribe of Judah.

But only Simeon's intimate acquaintance and communion with

God through the Spirit enabled Him to interpret the factual

prophetic pieces of information and recognize in Jesus the

Promised One of God. Simeon—like Abraham centuries

earlier—knew his Master's voice.

Who, on the same occasion, recognized in the baby Jesus

the coming Messiah? Luke 2:36-38.

THINK IT THROUGH

"Anna also, a prophetess, came in and confirmed Simeon's

testimony concerning Christ. As Simeon spoke, her face lighted

up with the glory of God, and she poured out her heartfelt

thanks that she had been permitted to behold Christ the

Lord."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 55.

Am I so well acquainted with the Spirit that I know the

difference between the Spirit of God or a false spirit speaking

to me?

"True religion consists in being under the guidance of the

Holy One in thought, word, and deed."—Ellen G. White,

Review

and Herald,

February 28, 1899.

FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pp. 54, 55.



The Christian's



Guide

LESSON 9



❑

Friday

December 1



Part 6



"He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall

THE SPIRIT shew it unto you" (John 16:14).

GUIDES



TO JESUS



The work and purpose of the Spirit is Christocentric. He does

not call attention to Himself, but He directs the attention of all to

Jesus. The litmus test of any alleged workings of the Spirit in

believers or organizations is the place they accord Jesus. If they

call attention to and glorify self or man, and even magnify man's

spiritual experience, they lack the insignia of the Spirit.

What are we admonished to do with spirits that confront us

as Christians? 1 John 4:1.

A Christian must not accept every spiritual activity or spirit as

coming from God. A Christian must not be gullible. There are

other spirits, and God has made provision that a Christian will

be able to distinguish between the spirits. This is one of the gifts

of the Spirit according to First Corinthians 12:10. To verify that a

prompting is of the Spirit, it must be tested by the Word. The

Spirit never leads contrary to the Word.

"Even the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart is to be tested

by the Word of God. The Spirit which inspired the Scriptures,

always leads to the Scriptures."—Selected

Messages,

bk. 1, p.

43.

Whom does the Spirit glorify? John 16:13 (middle part);

15:26 (last part).

The Spirit was not to present His own ideas or notions, but

only what Jesus taught. Jesus said, "He shall receive of mine,

and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:14).

Being the Spirit of truth, He will especially bear witness to

Jesus, who is the truth. (See John 14:6.) And it is only through

the Spirit's speaking directly to our hearts that we ever come to

a true and living knowledge of Jesus Christ. (See 1 Cor. 12:3.)

THINK IT THROUGH

The Spirit's objective is to turn the attention of men and

women to Jesus and to glorify Him. Whose glory are you and I

seeking?

Concerning the statement in John 16:14 that reads "He [the

Spirit] shall glorify me," Ellen G. White says: "In these words

Christ declares the crowning work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit

glorifies Christ by making Him the object of supreme regard,

and the Saviour becomes the delight, the rejoicing, of the

human agent in whose heart is wrought this transformation."—

Life Today,

p. 49

FURTHER STUDY



Counsels to Teachers,

pp. 357-361.

10/Life Through

the Holy Spirit

LESSON 10 December 3-9

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the

flesh profiteth nothing: the words that

I speak unto you, they are spirit, and

they are life" (John 6:63).

Jesus and the Spirit work together

for human salvation. The incarnation,

suffering, death, resurrection,

ascension, and intercession of

Jesus—all of these are essential to our

salvation. But not even all of these will

bring us salvation. Satan rejoices as

long as we limit our presentation to

these facets of the plan of redemption.

The power of God's Spirit must be at

work in us! "The Spirit was to be given

as a regenerating agent, and without

this the sacrifice of Christ would have

been of no avail."—The

Desire of

Ages,

p. 671. He alone can effect a

transformation of our characters,

because He can live within us. From

the beginning it was God's purpose

that the Spirit should live within every

human being. Satan tried to frustrate

this plan.

Jesus still attempts to carry out His

purpose. He will effect spiritual

rebirth in those who are willing.

"Receiving life from God, He [Jesus]

imparted life to

men."—Education,

81. Conversion takes place when the

sinner yields fully to the wooing of the

Holy Spirit. (See

The Desire of Ages,

172.) Conversion is the turning from

rebellion against God to willing

obedience. "This change can be

brought about only by the effectual

working of the Holy Spirit."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 172. This work of

regeneration or new birth brings

about a transformation; a new

spiritual life within us that will result in

our becoming new creatures.

The apostle said that we are to be

partakers of the divine nature. (See

2 Peter 1:4.) Man may be likened to a

garden in a jungle. Without

continuous cultivation, the new life

will be quickly choked. In our

vegetable gardens we often see small

carrot and beet plants sprout up out of

the earth. But we have also seen them

choked out and die when they were

overwhelmed by weeds. So the tender

spiritual life, although of divine origin,

may die unless it is carefully nurtured

and cared for.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

The Spirit Is Life

(Rom. 8:10)

The Spirit Gives Life

(John 6:63)

"Born of the Spirit"

(John 3:3-6)

The New Life

(2 Cor. 5:17)

New Life Ousts Sin

(Rom. 8.2)

Righteousness Through the Spirit

(Gal, 5:5)

Life Through the Holy Spirit

LESSON 10



❑

Sunday

December 3

Part 1



"If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the

THE SPIRIT Spirit is life because of righteousness" (Rom. 8:10).

IS LIFE

The only way Christ can live in man is through His Spirit. Jesus

infiltrates our minds by the Holy Spirit. The operations of God, in

and for man, are through His Spirit.

Since our new life was brought about by the Word, how does

the Spirit design it to be sustained? 1 Peter 2:2.

Physical life cannot be sustained without food. Neither can

spiritual life be sustained without nourishment. Man's spiritual

food is the Word accompanied to the heart by the Spirit. To gain

spiritual strength we must of necessity "eat," read and study,

the Word through the Spirit's guidance. Its principles will then

become the warp and woof of our thinking pattern until we will

begin to react spontaneously to situations and make daily life

decisions in conformity with its divinely inspired teachings.

Because the Spirit lives and rules within us in accordance with

His teachings in the Word, it can be said that "the Bible and the

soul were made one for the other."—Ellen G. White,

Signs of the

Times,

August 20, 1894.

No man can have insight into the word of God without the

illumination of the Holy Spirit. . . .

. . . Unless taught by the Holy Spirit, we shall not rightly

comprehend the Bible; for it is a sealed book even to the

learned, who are wise in their own conceit."—Ellen G. White,

Review and Herald,

June 4, 1889.

Since we were born into the kindgom of God as babes, what

is God's—the Father, the Son, and the Spirit's—desire for us?

2 Peter 3:18.

"It is the Lord's desire that His followers shall grow in grace,

that their love shall abound more and more, that they shall be

filled with the fruits of righteousness."—Ellen G. White,

SDA

Bible Commentary, vol.

7, p. 947.

What is our new relationship to God, and what has God

given us as a sign of this new relationship? Gal. 4:6.

THINK IT THROUGH

FURTHER STUDY

As I examine myself, how can I have the assurance that

Jesus through the Spirit lives in me?

"The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in the soul."—

The Desire of Ages,

p. 805.

"It is as the Spirit of God touches the soul that the powers of

the soul are quickened, and man becomes a new creature in

Christ Jesus. He was manifested to bring life and immortality to

light."—Ellen G. White,

Review and Herald,

November 22, 1892.

Testimonies,

vol. 5, pp. 226-231.

Life Through the Holy Spirit

LESSON 10



❑

Monday

December 4



Part 2



"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:

THE SPIRIT the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are

GIVES LIFE life" (John 6:63).

The Spirit is God. As such

He is life.

It is only through the Spirit

that life is imparted to us—both physical and spiritual. "The

impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of

Christ."—Gospel

Workers,

p. 285.

Through what means or medium does the Spirit impart to us

this new divine life? John 6:63 (second part).

Today's English Version renders this text as follows: "What

gives life is God's Spirit; man's power is of no use at all. The

words I have spoken to you bring God's life-giving Spirit." The

truths spoken by Jesus, received into the heart by faith through

the ministry of the Spirit, constitute the reception of spiritual

life. Ellen White said: "In every command and in every promise

of the word of God is the power, the very life of God, by which

the command may be fulfilled and the promise realized. He who

by faith receives the word is receiving the very life and character

God."—Christ's Object Lessons,

p. 38.

How did Jesus reinforce the concept that life is in His word?

John 12:50 (first part).

This phrase in

The New English Bible

is rendered: "I know

that his commands are eternal life."

"Eternal life is the receiving of the living elements in the

Scriptures and doing the will of God. This is eating the flesh and

drinking the blood of the Son of God. To those who do this, life

and immortality are brought to light through the gospel, for

God's Word is verity and truth, spirit and life.... The Holy Spirit's

influence renders that Word, the Bible, an immortal truth, which

to the prayerful searcher gives spiritual sinew and muscle.

" . . God's Spirit and life are in His

Word."—Selected Mes-

sages,

bk. 2, pp. 38, 39.



THINK IT THROUGH



Am I eating of the Word—this veritable tree of life within my

reach-daily in order that I may live spiritually and eternally?

"The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in

the word of God. This word imparts power; it begets life. Every

command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the

soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms the

nature and re-creates the soul in the image of God."—

Education,

p. 126.



FURTHER STUDY



Selected Messages,

bk. 2, pp. 38, 39.

Life Through the Holy Spirit

LESSON 10



❑

Tuesday

December 5



Part 3



"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto

"BORN OF thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom

THE SPIRIT" of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born

when he Is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's

womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto

thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he

cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the

flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit"

(John 3:3-6).

The new birth is a regeneration and a partaking of the divine

nature. The divine nature is imparted or mediated by the Spirit

through the Word. "Born again" in John 3 in its deepest mean-

ing really means "born from above." Regeneration is therefore

not our natural life brought up to the highest level of attainment,

but rather divine life imparted to us "who were dead in tres-

passes and sins" (Eph. 2:1).

"Nicodemus had come to the Lord thinking to enter into a

discussion with Him, but Jesus laid bare the foundation princi-

ples of truth. He said to Nicodemus, It is not theoretical knowl-

edge you need so much as spiritual regeneration.... You must

receive a new life from above before you can appreciate

heavenly things."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 171.

According to Paul's letter to Titus, how is this new life

brought about? Titus 3:5.

"Every time a soul is converted, and learns to love God and

keep His commandments, the promise of God is fulfilled, 'A new

heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.'

Ezek. 36:26. The change in human hearts, the transformation of

human characters, is a miracle that reveals an ever-living

Saviour, working to rescue souls. A consistent life in Christ is a

great miracle. In the preaching of the word of God, the sign that

should be manifest now and always is the presence of the Holy

Spirit, to make the word a regenerating power to those that

hear."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 407



THINK IT THROUGH



Have I truly been born of the Spirit, or do I live by elevated

humanistic ethics?

"The Christian's life is not a modification or improvement of

the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self

and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought

about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 172.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pp. 171-176.

Life Through the Holy Spirit

LESSON 10



❑

Wednesday

December 6

Part 4

THE NEW

LIFE

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old

things are passed away; behold, all things are become new"

(2 Cor. 5:17).

How does man become a new creature? Rom. 8:9-11.

"To the heart that has become purified, all is changed. Trans-

formation of character is the testimony to the world of an in-

dwelling Christ. The Spirit of God produces a new life in the

soul, bringing the thoughts and desires into obedience to the

will of Christ; and the inward man is renewed in the image of

God. Weak and erring men and women show to the world that

the redeeming power of grace can cause the faulty character to

develop into symmetry and abundant fruitfulness."—Prophets

and Kings,

p. 233.

What does man possess through Jesus? 1 John 5:11, 12.

Christians now possess eternal life. Late one evening Father

returned from a trip. Five-year-old Tom eagerly waited for Fa-

ther's return. As usual Father brought a little gift for each child.

For Tom, Dad had a big red apple and told Tom so. Almost

immediately after Dad had told the children about their gifts,

tired Tom went to bed.

The next morning Tom got up and started happily telling his

brothers and sisters that he had an apple. But so far his father

had not given it to him. Johnny, about 12 years old, decided to

tease his little brother, so he said to him, "You don't have any

apple. If you do have one, show it to me." Tom got a little ruffled,

but he still insisted he had an apple. Finally, when his brother

did not stop teasing and annoying him, Tom went to his father

and asked, "John says I have no apple, but, Daddy, don't I have

an apple?" His father assured him that he did have an apple.

All committed believers are possessors of eternal life through

Jesus. "The Spirit of God, received into the heart by faith, is the

beginning of the life eternal."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 388.

"Those who seek Christ in His true character have within

them the elements of everlasting life, because they are partak-

ers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruptions that are

in the world through

lust."—Selected Messages,

bk. 1, p. 137.



THINK IT THROUGH



Do I avail myself of the means whereby I can obtain the new,

or eternal life?

"The mighty power of the Holy Spirit works an entire trans-

formation in the character of the human agent, making him a

new creature in Christ Jesus."—The

Faith I Live By,

p. 137.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

p. 388.

Life Through the Holy Spirit

LESSON 10



❑

Thursday

December 7

Part 5

NEW LIFE

OUSTS SIN

"The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me

free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2).

It is only through the indwelling of the Spirit that man is

delivered from sin and preserved from eternal death.

"If his [God's] Spirit abides in the heart, sin cannot dwell

there. . . .

"Let us open the door of our hearts, that Jesus may come in

and that sin may go out."—Ellen G. White,

Review and Herald,

March 16, 1886.

Some leafy trees stubbornly retain their faded leaves

throughout the long winter. But with spring the sap begins to

flow. As it ascends the trunk and pushes out into every branch

and tiny twig, it crowds off the dead leaves which have clung to

the tree throughout the long winter despite frost and storms. So

does the Spirit within us, when allowed full control, subdue and

expel sin from our nature.

How only may we have this eternal or new life within us?

1 John 5:12.

It is only through the Spirit that we have the Son. "Through

the Spirit, Christ was to abide continually in the hearts of His

children."—Steps

to Christ,

p. 75.

If Christ does not abide in man through the Spirit, what

possesses him? Rom 7:20.

There is no more possibility of a vacuum in the human heart

than there is in nature or the physical world. Nature will of

necessity hastily fill a vacuum. That is the way hurricanes, tor-

nadoes, and typhoons arise.

What parable did Jesus tell to show the spiritual disaster of

not letting the Spirit fill our hearts and lives? Matt. 12:43-45.

"The parable of the man from whom an evil spirit had been

cast out, who did not fill the soul with the love of Christ, illus-

trates the necessity of not only emptying the heart, but of sup-

plying the vacuum with the divine occupant.... It is not enough

to make the heart empty; we must have the vacuum filled with

the love of God. The soul must be furnished with the graces of

the Spirit of God. We may leave off many bad habits, and yet not

be truly sanctified, because we do not have a connection with

God. We must unite with Christ."—Ellen G. White,

Review and

Herald,

January 24, 1893.

Have I merely ceased to do evil, or have I admitted Jesus

into my heart to be King In my life?

The Desire of Ages,

pp. 209, 210.

THINK IT THROUGH

FURTHER STUDY

Life Through the Holy Spirit

LESSON 10



❑

Friday

December 8



Part 6



"We through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by

RIGHTEOUSNESS faith" (Gal. 5:5).

THROUGH



THE SPIRIT



"The gift of righteousness is communicated to men through

the agency of the Holy Spirit (see John 16:8). Herein lies the

difference between the ineffective righteousness man seeks

through works and the effective righteousness that comes

through faith. In the former the Spirit has no part, for the effort is

purely human and thus independent of divine grace."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

vol. 6, p. 977.

The means employed by God for effecting this transformation

is the Word made fruitful through the ministry of the Spirit.

"Higher education is an experimental knowledge of the plan of

salvation, and this knowledge is secured by earnest and diligent

study of the Scriptures. Such an education will renew the mind

and transform the character, restoring the image of God in the

soul."—Counsels to Teachers,

p. 11.

Whom has God in His foreknowledge ordained that we

should be like? Rom. 8:29.

God created man in His own image (Gen. 1:27). It still is His

purpose that His plan be fulfilled.

"As they [God's people] feed upon His word, they find that it is

spirit and life. The word destroys the natural, earthly nature, and

imparts a new life in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes to the

soul as a Comforter. By the transforming agency of His grace,

the image of God is reproduced in the disciple; he becomes a

new creature. Love takes the place of hatred, and the heart

receives the divine similitude."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 391.

What is God's plan for man through sanctification and how

is it to be accomplished? 2 Peter 1:4; Rom. 15:16.

Sanctification is the impartation of God's own nature to all

who are born again. The mind, feelings, and will of all of us have

been perverted by sin. Through the new birth and sanctification

our natures are changed into conformity with the will of God

because His Spirit has become our spirit. (See 1 Cor. 2:10-12.)

"He [God] is able to take those who are dead in trespasses

and sins, and by the operation of the Spirit which raised Jesus

from the dead, transform the human character, bringing back to

the soul the lost image of

God."—Fundamentals of Christian

Education,

p. 332.



FURTHER STUDY



Selected Messages,

bk. 1, pp. 373, 374.

11/The Restorer

of the Image of

God in Man

LESSON 11 December 10-16

"Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work

in you will perform it until the day of

Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).

God created man in His own image.

As such he was perfect in his

innocence. Perfect, but not full

grown. It was God's purpose that he

should grow and develop and pass

from innocence to virtue.

But Lucifer was there. He had been

expelled from heaven before the

creation of Adam and Eve. (See

Spirit

of Prophecy, vol.

1, p. 23,) As soon as

Adam and Eve were placed upon the

earth, Satan decided to frustrate God's

design of filling the earth with happy,

peaceful, and obedient beings. He

determined to make them his servants

and to make them reflectors of his

image and character, rather than of

God's. In this he largely succeeded. At

the time of Christ's first coming„ "the

bodies of human beings, made forthe

dwelling place of God, had become

the habitation of demons."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 36.

Despite the biblical revelation, our

concept of God is rather nebulous.

We are uncertain of what He is like.

The ancient Jews utterly failed to

understand God and His character.

But then Jesus came. He came to make

God known. Thus we know what God

is like, because Jesus was "the express

image of his person" (Heb. 1:3). Jesus

Himself told the Twelve that "he that

hath seen me hath seen the Father"

(John 14:9).

The character and mind-set of Jesus

are lucidly portrayed in the Gospels.

As we study them, comparing

scripture with scripture, we learn to

know what Jesus is like. By learning to

know Him, we come to know the

Father also, and understand what the

image of God really is.

"The education to be secured by

searching the Scriptures is an

experimental knowledge of the plan of

salvation. Such an education will

restore the image of God in the soul. It

(will strengthen and fortify the mind

'against temptation, and fit the learner

to become a co-worker with Christ in

His mission of mercy to the world. It

will make him a member of the

heavenly family, and prepare him to

share the inheritance of the saints in

light."—Christ's

Object Lessons,

pp. 42, 43.

"How few are aware that they have

darling idols, that they have cherished

sins! God sees these sins to which you

may be blinded, and He works with

His pruning knife to strike deep and

separate these cherished sins from

you. You all want to choose for

yourselves theprocess of purification.

How hard it is for you to submit to the

crucifixion of self; but when the work

is all submitted to God, to Him who

knows our weakness and our

sinfulness, He takes the very best way

to bring about the desired results. It

was through constant conflict and

simple faith that Enoch walked with

God. You may all do the same. You

may be thoroughly converted and

transformed, and be indeed children

of God, enjoying not only the

knowledge of His will, but, by your

example, leading others in the same

path of humble obedience and

consecration."—Testimonies,

vol.

p. 543.

"His Holy Spirit, with its gracious

influences, will fill the soul, and every

thought will be brought into

subjection to the obedience of

Chnst."—Testimonies,

vol.

5, p. 648.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Man Created in God's Image

(Gen. 1:27)

Man's Free Choice

(Rom. 6:16)

Created to Glorify God

(Isa. 43:7)

Satan's Purpose for Man

(Matt. 13:24, 2.5)

God's Honor at Stake

(Gen. 1:26)

Restoration

(2 Cor. 5:17)

The Restorer

of the Image of God in Man

LESSON 11



❑

Sunday

December 10



Part 1



"God created man in his own image, in the image of God

MAN CREATED created he him; male and female created he them" (Gen.

IN GOD'S IMAGE 1:27).

Although man was created in God's own image, it did not

mean that he could not grow spiritually. His character was to

grow and develop.

"When Adam came from the Creator's hand, he bore, in his

physical, mental, and spiritual nature, a likeness to his Maker.

'God created man in His own image' (Genesis 1:27), and it was

His purpose that the longer man lived the more fully he should

reveal this image—the more fully reflect the glory of the Creator.

All his faculties were capable of development; their capacity

and vigor were continually to increase."—Education, p. 15.

What is the basis of God's character? 1 John 4:8. What does

this say about the reason why God created man?

"Infinite love—how great it is! God made the world to enlarge

heaven. He desires a larger family of created intelligences."—

Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible Commentary, vol.

1, p.

1081.

According to God's plan, children are conceived as the result

of love between husband and wife. Man in the beginning also

came into existence because of God's love. Parents who al-

ready have several children of their own sometimes adopt

another child because they wish another person to share and

enjoy their happiness.

God probably has many worlds throughout the immensity of

space inhabited by happy, peaceful, intelligent beings. But He

wished to enlarge His family; He desired more free-willed intel-

ligences to share His and their joy. Thus He created Adam and

Eve and endowed them with procreative powers that the whole

earth might ultimately be populated.

What did God give Adam and Eve as a perpetuator of life

and happiness? Gen. 2:9.

"The tree of life is a representation of the preserving care of

Christ for His children. As Adam and Eve ate of this tree, they

acknowledged their dependence upon God. The tree of life

possessed the power to perpetuate life, and as long as they ate

of it, they could not die."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible

Commentary, vol.

7, p. 988.



THINK IT THROUGH



Knowing that by God's grace we are being restored to the

image of God, do we daily choose to represent Him as His

children in all our deeds, words, and thoughts?



FURTHER STUDY



Patriarchs and Prophets,

pp. 44, 45.

The Restorer

of the Image of God in Man

LESSON 11



❑

Monday

December 11

Part 2



"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to

MAN'S FREE obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin

CHOICE unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Rom.

6:16).

This text presents a sobering thoUght. We may not often

think, or like to admit, that we are servants or slaves; neverthe-

less the Scriptures reveal to us that we are, and we each choose

whom we serve. Am I a servant of lust, of appetite, of sinful

thoughts? Or do I choose to serve God? I may learn what I am

by examining my thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and actions.

How did Satan make first Eve and then Adam his servants?

Gen. 3:1-6.

Through eating of the forbidden fruit the status of Adam and

Eve changed from being stewards of the garden under God to

being servants of Satan. By obeying Satan they surrendered to

him their God-entrusted stewardship. From now on Adam, the

son of God (according to Luke 3:38), no longer represented this

earth in the Congress of the Universe. As it convened, Satan, to

whom Adam had yielded his rulership, took his place with the

other sons of God. (See Job. 1:6, 7.)

"Through yielding to satanic influences, men will be trans-

formed into fiends; and those who were created in the image of

God, who were formed to honor and glorify their Creator, will

become the habitation of dragons, and Satan will see in an

apostate race his masterpiece of evil—men who reflect his own

image."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible Commentary,

vol.

7, p. 974.

THINK IT THROUGH

Through my moment-by-moment choices I Indicate whose

servant I am. Am I a servant of the evil one following his

suggestions, or am I a servant of God following His will?

"In the work of redemption there is no compulsion. No exter-

nal force is employed. Under the influence of the Spirit of God,

man is left free to choose whom he will serve. In the change that

takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ, there is the

highest sense of freedom. The expulsion of sin is the act of the

soul itself. True, we have no power to free ourselves from Sa-

tan's control; but when we desire to be set free from sin, and in

our great need cry out for a power out of and above ourselves,

the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of the

Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the

will of God."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 466.

FURTHER STUDY



Steps to Christ,

"Consecration," pp. 47, 48.

The Restorer

of the Image of God in Man

LESSON 11



❑

Tuesday

December 12

Part 3

CREATED TO

GLORIFY GOD

THINK IT THROUGH

What was God's intended purpose for man's existence?

"I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I

have made him" (Isa. 43:7).

God created Adam and Eve that they and their posterity might

bring glory to His name. "Vast was the scope offered for their

exercise, glorious the field opened to their research. The mys-

teries of the visible universe—the 'wondrous works of Him

which is perfect in knowledge' (Job. 37:16)—invited man's

study. Face-to-face, heart-to-heart communion with his Maker

was his high privilege. Had he remained loyal to God, all this

would have been his forever. Throughout eternal ages he would

have continued to gain new treasures of knowledge, to discover

fresh springs of happiness, and to obtain clearer conceptions of

the wisdom, the power, and the love of God. More and more fully

would he have fulfilled the object of his creation, more and more

fully have reflected the Creator's

glory."—Education,

p. 15.

What does the revelator indicate as being one of God's

purposes for man's creation? Rev. 4:11.

The only way man can bring God pleasure is for man to fulfill

the purpose for which God created him. And, since the Fall, this

purpose can be achieved only through the Spirit.

"The whole heart must be yielded to God, or the change can

never be wrought in us by which we are to be restored to His

likeness. By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit

describes our condition in such words as these. 'Dead in tres-

passes and sins;' the whole head is sick, and the whole heart

faint;' no soundness in it.' We are held fast in the snare of

Satan; 'taken captive by him at his will.' Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah

1:5, 6; 2 Timothy 2:26. God desires to heal us, to set us free. But

since this requires an entire transformation, a renewing of our

whole nature, we must yield ourselves wholly to Him."—Steps

to Christ,

p. 43.

In the sunset hours of earth's history, what is still God's

purpose for man? (See Rev. 14:7.) How are we daily to relate to

this as members of God's family on earth?

"Created to be 'the image and glory of God' (1 Corinthians

11:7), Adam and Eve had received endowments not unworthy of

their high destiny. . . . They bore in outward resemblance the

likeness of their Maker. Nor was this likeness manifest in the

physical nature only. Every faculty of mind and soul reflected

the Creator's

glory."—Education,

p. 20.

FURTHER STUDY



Testimonies,

vol. 9, pp. 21-23.

The Restorer

of the Image of God in Man

LESSON 11



❑

Wednesday

December 13



Part 4



What does the parable of the tares teach about how Satan

SATAN'S tries to nullify God's plan?

PURPOSE



FOR MAN



"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The king-

dom of heaven Is likened unto a man which sowed good seed

in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed

tares among the wheat, and went his way" (Matt. 13:24, 25).

(Read also verses 26-30, 36-43.)

"As soon as the Lord through Jesus Christ created our world,

and placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, Satan an-

nounced his purpose to conform to his own nature the father

and mother of all humanity, and to unite them with his own

ranks of rebellion. He was determined to efface the image of

God from the human posterity, and to trace his own image upon

the soul in place of the divine image."—Ellen G. White,

Review

and Herald,

April 14, 1896.

There will be tares. Not because God wills it, but because

Satan wills it, and men have chosen to follow Satan's design. It

is not God's will that tares exist, but man's choice.

In the parable of the four soils, what is taught about the good

seed and the stands of wheat among the thorns? Matt. 13:

7, 22.

Although wheat has been sown and sprouted and started

growing, the garden of the heart demands constant cultivation

lest the wheat be choked. Classified among the thorns is one

that is particularly deceptive and dangerous to diligent

Seventh-day Adventists—the cares of this life. This is a respect-

able virtue. But, unless it is weeded out, it may become a thorn

of destruction to spiritual life.

"The thorns of sin will grow in any soil; they need no cultiva-

tion; but grace must be carefully cultivated. The briers and

thorns are always ready to spring up, and the work of purifica-

tion must advance continually. If the heart is not kept under the

control of God, if the Holy Spirit does not work unceasingly to

refine and ennoble the character, the old habits will reveal

themselves in the

life."—Christ's Object Lessons,

p. 50.



THINK IT THROUGH



Are there "thorns" in my Christian experience? If so what

can be done to eliminate them?

"The fact that men are in the church does not prove them

Christians."—Christ's

Object Lessons,

p. 74.

"The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into the

truth, because of the church members who have never been

converted and those who were once converted but who have

backslidden."—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 371.



FURTHER STUDY



Christ's Object Lessons,

"The Sower Went Forth to Sow,"

pp. 70-75.



The Restorer

of the Image of God in Man

LESSON 11



❑

Thursday

December 14

Part 5



"God said, Let us make man in our Image, after our likeness:

GOD'S HONOR and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over

AT STAKE the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth,

and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth"

(Gen. 1:26).

God did not merely purpose to make man in His image; He did

actually make him in His likeness. Genesis 5:1 adds: "In the day

that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him."

At the completion of His creative work God looked upon what

He had done and declared it "very good"—including man. But it

did not remain such. Through Satan's machinations it deterior-

ated to the point that God is said to have "repented" that He had

brought the world and man into existence. (See Gen. 6:6.)

How did Jesus in His teaching express the thought that a

man should count the cost of a project before he launches out

on it? Luke 14:28-32.

Before God created man as a free-willed being, He counted

the cost. Free will on the part of an intelligent creature em-

braced the possibility of his departing from the Creator's plan.

God knew this. And He made adequate preparation for the

remedy of such a disastrous possibility. His honor is involved in

ultimately bringing His creative plan to a successful comple-

tion.

When the plan of salvation is completed and Jesus comes

to gather His own, what will the result be as far as God's glory

is concerned? 2 Thess. 1:10.

"It is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, which Jesus said He

would send into the world, that changes our character into the

image of Christ; and when this is accomplished, we reflect, as in

a mirror, the glory of the Lord."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible Commentary,

vol. 6, p. 1097.

THINK IT THROUGH



How do I personally bring disgrace or honor to God in my

daily life?

"Oh, if we would by faith draw nigh to God, He would reveal to

us His glory, which is His character, and the praise of God would

flow forth from human hearts and be sounded by human voices.

Then we would forever cease to give glory to Satan by sinning

against God and talking doubt and unbelief."—Ellen G. White

Comments,

SDA Bible Commentary,

vol. 6, p. 1097.

FURTHER STUDY



SDA Bible Commentary,

vol. 6, pp. 1097, 1098.

The Restorer

of the Image of God in Man

LESSON 11



❑

Friday

December 15

Part 6



"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old

RESTORATION things are passed away; behold, all things are become new"

(2 Cor. 5:17).

"The old nature, born of blood and the will of the flesh, cannot

inherit the kingdom of God. The old ways, the hereditary tend-

encies, the former habits, must be given up; for grace is not

inherited. The new birth consists in having new motives, new

tastes, new tendencies. Those who are begotten unto a new life

by the Holy Spirit, have become partakers of the divine nature,

and in all their habits and practices they will give evidence of

their relationship to Christ."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA

Bible Commentary,

vol. 6, p. 1101.

Characterwise how is this new nature revealed? Eph. 4:24.

"To Paul the Christian is, in his favourite phrase,

in Christ,

and

therefore the old self of the Christian died in that death, and he

arose a new man, as new as if he had been freshly created by the

hands of God. In this newness of life he has acquired a new set

of standards. He no longer judges things by the standards the

world uses."—William Barclay,

The Letters to the Corinthians

(Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1975), p. 209. Used by

permission.

How is our new, imparted, divine nature revealed in our

relationship with people? 1 John 4:10-12.

"This love is the evidence of their discipleship. 'By this shall

all men know that ye are My disciples,' said Jesus, 'if ye have

love one to another.' When men are bound together, not by

force or self-interest, but by love, they show the working of an

influence that is above every human influence. Where this one-

ness exists, it is evidence that the image of God is being re-

stored in humanity, that a new principle of life has been im-

planted. It shows that there is power in the divine nature to

withstand the supernatural agencies of evil."—The

Desire of

Ages,

p. 678.

THINK IT THROUGH

Does my life in deed, word, and thought bear the evidence

that I have become a new creature in Christ and a partaker of

the divine nature?

"In the plan of restoring in men the divine image, it was

provided that the Holy Spirit should move upon human minds,

and be as the presence of Christ, a molding agency upon human

character."—Ellen G. White,

Review and Herald,

February 12,

1895.

FURTHER STUDY



Christ's Object Lessons,

"Two Worshipers," pp. 161-163.

12/The Sin

Against the

Holy Spirit

LESSON 12 December 17-23

Sin is alien to the plan of God. Its

essence is separation from God. This

was illustrated in the experience of

Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

After they had disobeyed His directive

not to eat of the fruit of the tree of

"Verily I say unto you, All sins shall

be forgiven unto the sons of men, and

blasphemies wherewith soever they

shall blaspheme: but he that shall

blaspheme against the Holy Ghost

hath never forgiveness, but is in

danger of eternal damnation" (Mark

3:28, 29).

knowledge, they ran away from God.

Life is ours only through God. There

is no source of life but God.

Separation or withdrawal from God

consequently spells cessation of life,

or eternal death. If God had permitted

the laws of the universe uninterrupted

play after Satan's sin, Satan would

have died instantly. "Had Satan and

his host then [in the beginning) been

left to reap the full result of their sin,

they would have perished."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 764. Adam and Eve

would likewise have died immediately

upon transgression if God had not

impeded the law of cause and effect by

providing a Substitute.

Sin is fatal to man's existence, but

God delights to forgive it. "Verily I say

unto you, All sins shall be forgiven

unto the sons of men, and

blasphemies wherewith soever they

shall blaspheme" (Mark 3:28). Men

need not perish, although "all have

sinned, and come short of the glory of

God" (Rom. 3:23). Jesus died to earn

the right to forgive repentant sinners.

But there is one sin that is

unpardonable and inevitably results in

eternal death. When man refuses to

respond to the goodness of God that is

designed to lead unto repentance (see

Rom. 2:4), his continued refusal to

accept God's overtures of &race will

finally result in the commission of the

unpardonable sin.

The unpardonable sin, or the sin

against the Holy Spirit, is persistent

rejection of light. This inevitably

blinds the spiritual eyes and hardens

the rejecter's heart to the wooings of

the Spirit. Finally there is utter

darkness in the soul, and the person is

eternally lost, because he has ruined

his soul's perceptivity to the

promptings of the Spirit.

"Christ sees that which man does

not see. He sees the sins which, if not

repented of, will exhaust the patience

of a long-suffering God."—Ellen G.

White Comments,

SDA Bible

Commentary, vol. 7,

p. 964.

"The first step in resistance of light

leads to the second, and the second to

the third, until no light, however

strong, no evidence, however plain,

has any effect.... Truth shining upon

a heart determined to resist, only leads

to further resistance."—Ellen G.

White,

Review and Herald,

November

13,1900. Placing one's self beyond the

power of the Holy Spirit is

"unpardonable" because "we cannot

even repent without the aid of the

Spirit of God."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 175.

This lesson reviews the cases of

some who evidently did commit the

unpardonable sin.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Korah, Dathan, and Abiram

(Num. 16:1-3)

King Saul

(1 Sam. 10:9, 10)

The Jewish Leaders

(Mark 3:22)

Ananias and Sapphira

(Acts 5:3, 4)

Jesus Came to Forgive Sin

(Luke 19:10)

Conviction of Sin Necessary

(John 16:8, 9)

The Sin Against the Holy Spirit

LESSON 12



❑

Sunday

December 17



Part 1



Which three men stirred up rebellion against Moses in the

KORAN, wilderness? Num. 16:1, 2.

DATHAN,



AND ABIRAM



What was their charge against Moses?

THINK IT THROUGH

"They gathered themselves together against Moses and

against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon

you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them,

and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up your-

selves above the congregation of the Lord?" (Num. 16:3).

The Israelites forgot that their real leader was Christ Himself.

Moses was only His adjutant, carrying out His orders in leading

His people.

What was the final fate of the rebels after they had resisted

Moses' appeal to repentance? Num. 16:28-33.

"Moses made no effort at self-vindication. He solemnly ap-

pealed to God, in the presence of the congregation, as a witness

to the purity of his motives and the uprightness of his conduct,

and implored Him to be his

judge."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

p. 399.

"The divine judgment might even then have been stayed, if

Korah and his company had repented and sought forgiveness.

But their stubborn persistence sealed their

doom."—Patriarchs

and Prophets,

p. 401.

Have I ever criticized a leader because I aspired to his

position? This incident from the history of Israel shows Its

danger.

"Korah and his companions rejected light until they became

so blinded that the most striking manifestations of His [God's]

power were not sufficient to convince them; they attributed

them all to human or satanic agency. . . . It was this act that

sealed their doom. They had committed the sin against the Holy

Spirit, a sin by which man's heart is effectually hardened against

the influence of divine grace.... It is through the agency of the

Holy Spirit that God communicates with man; and those who

deliberately reject this agency as satanic, have cut off the chan-

nel of communication between the soul and Heaven.

"God works by the manifestation of His Spirit to reprove and

convict the sinner; and if the Spirit's work is finally rejected,

there is no more that God can do for the soul

."—Patriarchs and

Prophets,

p. 405.

FURTHER STUDY



Numbers 16;

Patriarchs and Prophets,

pp. 395-401.

The Sin Against the Holy Spirit

LESSON 12



❑

Monday

December 18

Part 2

KING SAUL

"And it was so, that when he [Saul] had turned his back to go

from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs

came to pass that day. And when they came thither to the hill,

behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God

came upon him, and he prophesied among them" (1 Sam.

10:9, 10).

"As Saul united with the prophets in their worship, a great

change was wrought in him by the Holy Spirit. The light of divine

purity and holiness shone in upon the darkness of the natural

heart. He saw himself as he was before God. He saw the beauty

of holiness. He was now called to begin the warfare against sin

and Satan, and he was made to feel that in this conflict his

strength must come wholly from God. . . . The Lord endowed

him with courage and wisdom for his high station. He revealed

to him the Source of strength and grace, and enlightened his

understanding as to the divine claims and his own duty."—

Patriarchs and Prophets,

pp. 610, 611.

In a later crisis when Samuel failed to appear, what preroga-

tive did Saul usurp? 1 Sam. 13:8, 9.

"With growing impatience he awaited the arrival of Samuel

and attributed the confusion and distress and desertion of his

army to the absence of the prophet. The appointed time came,

but the man of God did not immediately appear. God's provi-

dence had detained His servant. But Saul's restless, impulsive

spirit would no longer be restrained. Feeling that something

must be done to calm the fears of the people, he determined to

summon an assembly for religious service, and by sacrifice

entreat the divine

aid."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

p. 618.

To what did Saul's rebelliousness finally lead? 1 Sam. 16:14.



THINK IT THROUGH



Do I personally neglect God's warnings and reproofs? How

long can this go on until it becomes irreversible?

"It is a perilous step to slight the reproofs and warnings of

God's word or of His Spirit. Many, like Saul, yield to temptation

until they become blind to the true character of sin. They flatter

themselves that they have had some good object in view, and

have done no wrong in departing from the Lord's requirements.

Thus they do despite to the Spirit of grace, until its voice is no

longer heard, and they are left to the delusions which they have

chosen."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

p. 635.



FURTHER STUDY



Patriarchs and Prophets,

pp. 621, 622.

The Sin Against the Holy Spirit

LESSON 12



❑

Tuesday

December 19

Part 3



"The scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He

THE JEWISH hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out

LEADERS devils" (Mark 3:22).

(Read also verses 23-27 and Matthew 12:24-28.)

"Christ told them [the Pharisees] plainly that in attributing the

work of the Holy Spirit to Satan, they were cutting themselves

off from the fountain of blessing. Those who had spoken

against Jesus Himself, not discerning His divine character,

might receive forgiveness; for through the Holy Spirit they

might be brought to see their error and repent. Whatever the sin,

if the soul repents and believes, the guilt is washed away in the

blood of Christ; but he who rejects the work of the Holy Spirit is

placing himself where repentance and faith cannot come to

him."—The

Desire of Ages,

pp. 321, 322.

What did Jesus warn them that they might do if they con-

tinued to attribute His work to Satan? Mark 3:28-30; Matthew

12:31, 32.

According to the words of Jesus recorded here, those who

reject increasingly clear evidence of His divinity and falsely

attribute it to the power of the devil, by choosing their own

course of action rather than the divine, will commit blasphemy

against the Holy Spirit.

"It is by the Spirit that God works upon the heart; when men

willfully reject the Spirit, and declare It to be from Satan, they

cut off the channel by which God can communicate with them.

When the Spirit is finally rejected, there is no more that God can

do for the soul."—

The Desire of Ages,

p. 322

THINK IT THROUGH

What Is my usual response as I feel or hear the promptings

of the Spirit in my soul?

"The Pharisees to whom Jesus spoke this warning did not

themselves believe the charge they brought against Him. There

was not one of those dignitaries but had felt drawn toward the

Saviour. They had heard the Spirit's voice in their own hearts

declaring Him to be the Anointed of Israel, and urging them to

confess themselves His disciples. In the light of His presence

they had realized their unholiness, and had longed for a righ-

teousness which they could not create. But after their rejection

of Him it would be too humiliating to receive Him as the Mes-

siah. Having set their feet in the path of unbelief, they were too

proud to confess their error.... Still the convicting Spirit of God

followed them, and they had to build up many barriers in order

to withstand its power. The mightiest agency that can be

brought to bear upon the human heart was striving with them,

but they would not yield."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 322.

FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pp. 321-324.

100

The Sin Against the Holy Spirit

LESSON 12



❑

Wednesday

December 20



Pad 4



"Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to Ile

ANANIAS AND to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the

SAPPHIRA land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it

was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou con-

ceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men,

but unto God" (Acts 5:3, 4).

What had Ananias done to bring about Peter's accusation?

Acts 5:1, 2.

"Deep conviction had rested upon all present, and under the

direct influence of the Spirit of God, Ananias and Sapphira had

made a pledge to give to the Lord the proceeds from the sale of

certain property."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

pp. 71, 72.

Did the sin consist in withholding part of the sales price or in

pretending to give all, when they only gave part? Acts 5:4 (last

part).

"God hates hypocrisy and falsehood. Ananias and Sapphira

practiced fraud in their dealing with God; they lied to the Holy

Spirit, and their sin was visited with swift and terrible

judgment."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

p. 72.

Were there others who also resisted the Spirit in the days of

the apostles? Acts 7:51.



THINK IT THROUGH



Is there any unreprented sin in my life that the Spirit is

pointing out? If so, what should I do about it?

The Spirit enables men to recognize God's truth when it

enters their lives. But if a man refuses to respond to any God-

given insight he will ultimately lose it, just as the blind cave fish

has lost it's sight from living in the dark.

There is one condition of forgiveness and that is repentance.

"But if a man, by repeated refusals of God's guidance, has lost

the ability to recognize goodness when he sees it, if he has got

his moral values inverted until evil to him is good and good to

him is evil, then, even when he is confronted by Jesus, he is

conscious of no sin; he cannot repent and therefore he can

never be forgiven. That is the sin against the Holy Spirit."—

William Barclay,

The Gospel of Mark

(Philadelphia: The

Westminster Press, 1976), p. 81. Used by permission.



FURTHER STUDY



The Acts of the Apostles,

pp. 75, 76.

101

The Sin Against the Holy Spirit

LESSON 12



❑

Thursday

December 21

Part 5

JESUS CAME TO

FORGIVE SIN

"The Son of man Is come to seek and to save that which was

lost" (Luke 19:10).

Jesus left His home above and came down to earth because

He knew that man, if left to himself, was hopelessly and irre-

trievably lost. There was no hope for him apart from a divine

Saviour. Jesus came to save sinners.

Jesus' great power to save is illustrated in the case of Mary

Magdalene. Luke 7:36-38; John 11:2. (See

The Desire of Ages,

pp. 568, 788.)

"Simon questioned whether the Saviour were a prophet. Be-

cause Christ allowed this woman to approach Him, because He

did not indignantly spurn her as one whose sins were too great

to be forgiven, because He did not show that He realized she

had fallen, Simon was tempted to think that He was not a

prophet. Jesus knows nothing of this woman who is so free in

her demonstrations, he thought, or He would not allow her to

touch Him."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 566.

How widely was a knowledge of this woman's salvation to

be broadcast? Matt. 26:13; Mark 14:9.

"When to human eyes her case appeared hopeless, Christ

saw in Mary capabilities for good. lie saw the better traits of her

character. The plan of redemption has invested humanity with

great possibilities, and in Mary these possibilities were to be

realized. Through His grace she became a partaker of the divine

nature. The one who had fallen, and whose mind had been a

habitation of demons, was brought very near to the Saviour in

fellowship and ministry.... Mary stood beside the cross, and

followed Him to the sepulcher. Mary was first at the tomb after

His resurrection. It was Mary who first proclaimed a risen

Saviour."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 568.

Which promises especially emphasize Jesus' ability to save

to the uttermost? 1 John 1:9; Heb. 7:25; 1 Cor. 6:9-11.

The commission of crime or sin is no permanent obstacle to

salvation. Jesus can save anyone who is willing to accept salva-

tion. He is not primarily concerned with anyone's dismal past.

Any sin and shortcoming may be blotted out through His shed

blood.



THINK IT THROUGH



Is Jesus able to save, or free, me from every besetment and

sin? Why don't I let Him?

"Christ offered up His broken body to purchase back God's

heritage, to give man another

trial."—Christ's Object Lessons,

p. 156.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pp. 565-567.

102

The Sin Against the Holy Spirit

LESSON 12



❑

Friday

December 22

Part 6

CONVICTION OF

SIN NECESSARY

What has God in His mercy provided so that a sinner might

recognize his sinfulness?

"When he [the Spirit] comes, he will convince the world of

sin and of righteousness and of judgment: of sin, because

they do not believe in me" (John 16:8, 9, RSV).

In order to qualify as a candidate for salvation, a person must

recognize that he is a sinner. No person asks for help of the

Saviour unless he senses his need. One of our greatest needs is

a personal conviction of sin. Man cannot bring this about; it is

the Spirit's prerogative and office work to convict men of sin.

His very first work is to make the sinner aware of his sinfulness,

and hence his lost condition. The Spirit is not merely the Com-

forter. He is also—and first—the Convictor of sin. He becomes

the Comforter to those who have made peace with God by

admitting and confessing their sins.

What dramatic illustration demonstrates the Spirit's power

to convince of sin? Luke 19:8, 9.

How did Jesus illustrate the availability of salvation for a

contrite sinner, while at the same time pointing out the

hopelessness of a person who thinks he is righteous? Luke

18:10-14.

"We must have a knowledge of ourselves, a knowledge that

will result in contrition, before we can find pardon and peace.

The Pharisee felt no conviction of sin. The Holy Spirit could not

work with him. His soul was encased in a self-righteous armor

which the arrows of God, barbed and true-aimed by angel

hands, failed to penetrate. It is only he who knows himself to be

a sinner that Christ can

save."—Christ's Object Lessons,

p. 158.

When a person receives a vision of the righteousness and

holiness of God, like the prophet Isaiah (see Isa. 6: 5, 6), then he

also becomes convinced that he is sinful, and nothing but

judgment and utter destruction will await him in the presence of

a holy God unless Jesus intervenes to save him.



THINK IT THROUGH



Do you ever pray for the Spirit to convict you of sin?

"He who rejects the work of the Holy Spirit is placing himself

where repentance and faith cannot come to him."—The

Desire

of Ages,

p. 322.

"Every impure thought defiles the soul, impairs the moral

sense, and tends to obliterate the impressions of the Holy

Spirit."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 302.



FURTHER STUDY



Christ's Object Lessons,

"Two Worshipers," pp. 150-152.

103

13/A spirit-

Directed People

LESSON 13 December 24-30

"Thine ears shall hear a word behind

thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in

it, when ye turn to the right hand, and

when ye turn to the left" (Isa. 30:21).

After Adam and Eve had sinned, and

God could no longer talk to them

face-to-face, He purposed to lead and

direct them and their posterity

through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

During the entire span of human

history since the Fall, the Spirit has

constantly been wooing sinners back

to allegiance to God. In this ministry it

has been His desire to dwell within

men and be allowed to direct and

guide them in all their activities, their

words, and thoughts. Throughout the

long history of sin He has found men

and womenwho have responded to

His promptings and been willing to

accept Him as their permanent Guest

and Guide. These He has directed,

and they in turn spoke for Him to their

fellowmen.

"Some few in every generation from

Adam resisted his [Satan's] every

artifice and stood forth as noble

representatives of what it was in the

power of man to do and to be—Christ

working with human efforts, helping

man in overcoming the power of

Satan. Enoch and Elijah are the correct

representatives of what the race might

be through faith in Jesus Christ if they

chose to

be. Satan was greatly

disturbed because these noble, holy

men stood untainted amid the moral

pollution surrounding them,

perfected righteous characters, and

were accounted worthy for translation

to Heaven."—Ellen G. White,

Review

and Herald,

March 3, 1874.

The Spirit spoke to these noble

believers, andthey availed themselves

of His proffered power for victorious

living.

It was the Spirit who spoke through

the prophets and through them we

received the written revelation, or the

Bible. (See 2 Peter 1:21.) But God did

not limit His guidance to merely the

written revelation. He prompted His

servants individually with reference to

details of rife and deeds. This He did

for John the Baptist (Luke 1:13), Mary

(Luke 1:28), Simeon (Luke 2:25-27),

Philip (Acts 8:26), Peter (Acts 12:8),

and others.

In the same way God is still speaking

to you and me today. He speaks to us

through His Spirit. Inasmuch as the

written revelation unveils only the

broad outlines of God's will for us, He

still needs to prompt us individually by

His Spirit. The revelation of the Spirit

in His personal contact is always in

harmony with His written revelation.

We must, of course, test by the

Scriptures the origin of the spirit that

prompts us. If we are not prompted in

accord with the written revelation,

then we may know that it is by some

other spirit than the Holy Spirit; if the

spoken and written revelation are in

agreement, we may likewise know that

it is the Spirit of God who is speaking

to us.

Today as never before God's people

need to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

At the Exodus and Under the Judges

(Deut. 34:10)

Elisha

(2 Kings 2:9)

The Post-Pentecostal Church

(Acts 4:8)

The Church in the End Time

(Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5)

The Latter Rain

(Zech. 10:1)

The Loud Cry

(Acts 3:19)

A Spirit-Directed People

LESSON 13



❑

Sunday

December 24



Part 1



"There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses,

AT THE EXODUS whom the Lord knew face to face" (Deut. 34:10).

AND UNDER



THE JUDGES



Moses was a prophet, and a great prophet. At times God

spoke to him face-to-face (see Num. 12:7, 8), as when He gave

him the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. But probably the

major portions of the Pentateuch—the first five books of the

Bible—and Job were given to Moses in the same way that God

customarily spoke to the other prophets.

How did God ordinarily speak toPthe prophets? 2 Peter 1:21.

The Scriptures were given through the agency of the Spirit. (It

is interesting to note, however, that in Hebrews 1:1 prophetic

inspiration is attributed to God. This is another indication that

God and the Spirit are one in purpose, mind, and motive.)

What did the Spirit specifically do at the time of the Exodus?

Ex. 31:3.

"The Holy Spirit would impart to Bezaleel . . . discernment,

sound judgment, and discretion. In addition he was to receive

additional skill in 'workmanship.'

"—SDA Bible Commentary,

vol,

1, p. 661.

In what did the Spirit-ministry especially consist during the

time of the judges? Judges 3:10.

God gives through the Spirit the specific gift needed for the

accomplishment of His work among men. During the Exodus

craftsmen needed manual skill for the building of the taberna-

cle. During the time of the judges God's people, and especially

their leaders, needed courage. Israel was oppressed and the

people were discouraged. Thus the need for Israel and their

leaders at this particular time was courage to arise and throw off

the yoke of the oppressors. In the seven instances where the

Spirit is mentioned in the book of Judges (3:10; 6:34; 11:29;

13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14), He imparts courage and fortitude to the

leaders of God's people.

THINK IT THROUGH

Can I personally go to God and ask Him for skill, ability,

wisdom, and courage to do my work acceptably before Him?

Second Timothy 1:7 in Today's English Version reads, "For

the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead,

his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control."

FURTHER STUDY



Education,

pp. 35-38.

106

A Spirit-Directed People

LESSON 13



❑

Monday

December 25

Part 2



"It came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said

ELISHA unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken

away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double

portion of thy spirit be upon me" (2 Kings 2:9).

"Elisha asked not for worldly honor, or for a high place

among the great men of earth. That which he craved was a large

measure of the Spirit that God had bestowed so freely upon the

one about to be honored with translation. He knew that nothing

but the Spirit which had rested upon Elijah could fit him to fill

the place in Israel to which God had called him, and so he asked,

'I pray thee, let a double portion of thy Spirit be upon me.'

"—

Prophets and Kings,

pp. 226, 227.

Filled with a double portion of the Spirit, what miracles of

healing did Elisha perform? 2 Kings 4:32-36; 5:1, 10, 14.

"Like the Saviour of mankind, of whom he was a type, Elisha

in his ministry among men combined the work of healing with

that of teaching. Faithfully, untiringly, throughout his long and

effective labors, Elisha endeavored to foster and advance the

important educational work carried on by the schools of the

prophets. In the providence of God his words of instruction to

the earnest groups of young men assembled were confirmed by

the deep movings of the Holy Spirit, and at times by other

unmistakable evidences of his authority as a servant of

Jehovah."—Prophets and Kings,

p. 240.

What miracle of feeding hungry people did Elisha perform in

a time of famine? 2 Kings 4:42-44.

THINK IT THROUGH

"The lesson is for God's children in every age. When the Lord

gives a work to be done, let not men stop to inquire into the

reasonableness of the command or the probable result of their

efforts to

obey."—Prophets and Kings,

p. 243.

Elisha was constantly led and enabled by the Spirit. What

might we do through God's enabling power, if we were fully

under the daily direction of the Spirit?

"A fuller sense of God's relationship to those whom He has

purchased with the gift of His Son, a greater faith in the onward

progress of His cause in the earth—this is the great need of the

church today. Let none waste time in deploring the scantiness

of their visible resources. The outward appearance may be

unpromising; but energy and trust in God will develop re-

sources. The gift brought to Him with thanksgiving and with

prayer for His blessing, He will multiply."--Prophets

and Kings,

p. 243.

FURTHER STUDY



Prophets and Kings,

pp. 238-243.

107

A Spirit-Directed People

LESSON 13



❑

Tuesday

December 26



Part 3



What was the apostles' relationship to the Spirit after

THE POST- Pentecost as indicated by Peter's experience?

PENTECOSTAL



CHURCH



"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye

rulers of the people, and elders of Israel" (Acts 4:8).

Being filled with the Spirit, what was the attitude of the early

Christians despite persecution unto death? Acts 4:31; 7:55-

60; 13:52.

"As priests and rulers combined against them, and they were

brought before councils and thrust into prison, the followers of

Christ rejoiced 'that they were counted worthy to suffer shame

for His name.' Acts 5:41. They rejoiced to prove, before men and

angels, that they recognized the glory of Christ, and chose to

follow Him at the loss of all things."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 508.

Being filled with the Spirit, and discouragement, are mutually

exclusive. It is Satan who fills us with discouragements. "De-

spondency is sinful and unreasonable."—Prophets

and Kings,

p. 164. God through His Spirit imparts courage.

What qualification was required for election to leadership in

the post-Pentecostal church? Acts 6:3, 5.

"The path of men who are placed as leaders is not an easy

one. But they are to see in every difficulty a call to prayer. Never

are they to fail of consulting the great Source of all wisdom."—

Prophets and Kings,

p. 31.

How did the leaders in the post-Pentecostal church arrive at

decisions as to what to do? Acts 13:1, 2, 4; 15:28; 16:6, 7.

The post-Pentecostal church was Spirit-directed. It was the

Spirit that made the decisions, and the leaders accepted those

decisions.

How did the gospel spread under the direction of the Spirit-

filled church? Col. 1:23; Rev. 6:2.

THINK IT THROUGH

FURTHER STUDY

108

"Your energy and efficiency in the upbuilding of My kingdom,

Jesus says, depend upon your receiving of My Spirit. You must

partakers of My grace, in order to be a savor of life unto

life."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 439.

What was the reason for the rapid spread of the gospel in

apostolic times? Was It due to the educational attainments,

the financial resources, and administrative skills of the early

Christians, or was it the result of their willingness to be di-

rected by the Spirit?

The Acts of the Apostles,

pp. 578, 593-595.

A Spirit-Directed People

LESSON 13



❑

Wednesday

December 27



Pad 4



"Lo, I am with you aiway, even unto the end of the world"

THE CHURCH (Matt. 28:20).



IN THE END



"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5).

TIME

"The Holy Spirit is to be continually present with the believer.

We have need more carefully to consider the fact that the Com-

forter is to abide with us. If we individually comprehended this

truth, we should never feel alone."—The

Faith 1 Live By,

p. 57.

How does God plan to sanctify us as members of the rem-

nant church, and whom has God given us as a sign of His

ownership? 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Thess. 4:8.

"Christ ... can and will, if we submit to Him, fill the chambers

of the mind and the recesses of the soul with His Spirit. Then our

will will be in perfect harmony with the Divine will. Our spirit and

will may be so identified with His Spirit and will that in thought

and aim we shall be one with Him."—Our

High Calling,

p. 219.

How long will the Spirit and His gifts remain among the

believers? Eph. 4:10-13.

"To the end of time the presence of the Spirit is to abide with

the true church."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

p. 55.

What special help is provided for us as we face our great

enemy in the final battle? Eph. 6:11, 12.

"The Holy Spirit, the representative of the Captain of the

Lord's host, comes down to direct the battle. Our infirmities may

be many, our sins and mistakes grievous; but the grace of God is

for all who seek it with contrition. The power of Omnipotence is

enlisted in behalf of those who trust in God."—The

Desire of

Ages,

p. 352.



THINK IT THROUGH



How can I be assured so that, in the crisis hours just before

us, I can enjoy the Spirit's minute directions?

"The time has come when we must expect the Lord to do

great things for us. Our efforts must not flag or weaken. We are

to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. Before the

work is closed up and the sealing of God's people is finished, we

shall receive the outpouring of the Spirit of God. Angels from

heaven will be in our midst. The present is a fitting-up time for

heaven when we must walk in full obedience to all the com-

mands of

God."—Selected Messages,

bk. 1, p. 111.



FURTHER STUDY



Testimonies,

vol. 8, pp. 21-23.

109

A Spirit-Directed People

LESSON 13



❑

Thursday

December 28

Part 5



"Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the

THE LATTER Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain,

RAIN to every one grass in the field" (Zech. 10:1).

The terms "rain," "early rain," and "latter rain" were bor-

rowed by the Hebrew writers from their agricultural seasons.

The former or early rain fell in the seventh month, usually just

after the Feast of Tabernacles. This corresponds to our autumn

or to September-October. For the Israelites it was the season for

the plowing of the fields and the sowing of barley and wheat.

The latter rain fell shortly before the grain harvest in March and

early April. This rain enabled the grain to fill out and ripen for

harvest.

These terms are used by the Bible writers to symbolize great

periods of spiritual refreshing in connection with the preaching

of the gospel.

"Near the close of earth's harvest, a special bestowal of

spiritual grace is promised to prepare the church for the coming

of the Son of man. This outpouring of the Spirit is likened to the

falling of the latter rain."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

p. 55.

"The latter rain, ripening earth's harvest, represents the

spiritual grace that prepares the church for the coming of the

Son of man. But unless the former rain has fallen, there will be

life."—Testimonies to Ministers,

p. 506.

What prophecy did Peter refer to as being fulfilled at Pente-

cost? Acts 2:16-18. (See also Joel 2:28, 29.)

"The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days was the

'former rain,' and glorious was the result. But the 'latter rain' will

be more abundant."—The

Desire of Ages,

p. 827.

Am I expecting the latter rain to fall on me Just as a shower of

rain; or do I believe that something on my part is required to

attract it to me personally?

"Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the

active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifesta-

tions of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on

hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it"—

Testimonies to Ministers,

p. 507.

"He who does nothing, but waits to be compelled by some

supernatural agency, will wait on in lethargy and darkness."—

Fundamentals of Christian Education,

p. 125.

FURTHER STUDY



Testimonies to Ministers,

pp. 506-509.

110

THINK IT THROUGH

A Spirit-Directed People

LESSON 13



❑

Friday

December 29



Part 6



"Repent therefore, and turn again [be converted, KJV], that

THE LOUD your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may



CRY



come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19, RSV).

"Peter's statement (v. 19), taken as a whole, contains a most

definite temporal element. Evidently, Peter, speaking by inspi-

ration, and thus beyond his own finite understanding, is refer-

ring, tersely, to two great events of earth's last days—(1) the

mighty outpouring of God's Spirit, and (2) the final blotting out

of the sins of the righteous—which are tied to a third climactic

event, the second advent of Christ."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

vol. 6, p. 160.

Conversion precedes the time of refreshing. It is ac-

complished "by the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit, which

operate quietly yet surely in transforming and developing

character. It is the still, small voice of the Spirit of God that has

power to change the heart."—Prophets

and Kings,

p. 169.

How far-reaching will the loud cry be? Rev. 18:1.

"Angels were sent to aid the mighty angel from heaven, and I

heard voices which seemed to sound everywhere, 'Come out of

her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye

receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto

heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.'

"—Early

Writings,

p. 277.

"During the loud cry, the church, aided by the providential

interpositions of her exalted Lord, will diffuse the knowledge of

salvatiOn so abundantly that light will be communicated to

every city and town. The earth will be filled with the knowledge

of salvation. So abundantly will the renewing Spirit of God have

crowned with success the intensely active agencies, that the

light of present truth will be seen flashing everywhere."—

Evangelism,

p. 694.

"Let the work of proclaiming the gospel of Christ be made

efficient by the agency of the Holy Spirit.... The living Word is

the sword of the Spirit."—Ellen G. White,

Review and Herald,

October 13, 1904.

THINK IT THROUGH

Am I willing to have the Spirit dwell within me? If so, how

must I respond to His suggestions to me through the Bible and

the Inspired counsel?

"We must not wait for the latter rain. It is coming upon all who

will recognize and appropriate the dew and showers of grace

that fall upon us. When we gather up the fragments of light,

when we appreciate the sure mercies of God, who loves to have

us trust Him, then every promise will be fulfilled."—Ellen G.

White Comments,

SDA Bible Commentary, vol.

7, p. 984.

FURTHER STUDY



Testimonies to Ministers,

pp. 64-68.

111

Lessons for1st



rter / 1979

Sabbath School members who have not received a copy of the Adult Les-

sons for the first quarter of 1979 will be helped by the following outline in

studying the first two lessons. The title of the series is "THE CHRISTIAN

LIFE AND WORK."

First Lesson

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. Memory verse, Ps. 24:1, 2.

Creator (Ps. 33:8, 9)

Redeemer (lsa. 43:1)

Sustainer (Acts 14:17)

Protector (Ps. 91:2, 3, 11)

Sanctifier (1 Thess. 5:23)

Lord (Matt. 28:18-20)

Second Lesson

MAN'S RESPONSE TO GOD. Memory verse, Rom. 2:4.

Offering of Faith (Heb. 11:4)

The Basic Tenth (Gen. 14:20)

A Mutual Agreement (Gen. 28:20-22)

The Refusal to Sin (Gen. 39:9)

The Fight of Faith (2 Tim. 4:7)

Faithful Unto Death (Rev. 2:10)

Lessons in Braille

The regular Adult Sabbath School Lessons are available free each month in

Braille and 16

rpm records to blind and physically handicapped persons

who cannot read normal inkprint. This includes individuals who because of

arthritis, multiple sclerosis, paralysis, accidents, old age, and so forth,

cannot hold or focus on normal inkprint publications. Contact the Christian

Record Braille Foundation, Box 6097, Lincoln, Nebraska 68506.

Daniel and the Revelation

by Uriah Smith



$1.95

This complete, unabridged,

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a popular denominational classic

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Ellen White had a':special

burden for

Daniel and the

Revelation.

Colporteur Ministry,

Evangelism,

and other of her

writings she said it "should be

widely circulated," because the

truth presented "will open many

blind eyes." She further stated

that

Daniel and the Revelation

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This edition of

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Readings for the Home,

$1.95;

Christ's Object Lessons,

$1.35;

and

Counsels on Diet and Foods,

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Order from your local Adventist Book

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to your Sabbath School

every quarter.

For $9.00 a year you will

receive one tape each

quarter that will present

music, narration and

interviews in a professional

news-broadcast style. Each

tape contains two seven-

minute programs.

Now your Sabbath

School members can hear

first hand where their

mission offerings are going.

Order your Global

Assignment subscription

from: International Audio

Visual Ministry

1100 Rancho Conejo Blvd.

Thousands Oaks, CA 91360

(805) 498-4561

LARGE-PRINT

Adult Sabbath School Lessons Available

Large-print Adult Sabbath School Lessons are available. Com-

pare the two copies held by Elder A. R. Mazat and see what a help

the large print is!

Please send



subscriptions for large-print quarterlies at $5.00 per year

to U.S. addresses, $6.20 per year to addresses outside U.S.

Name



Street

City



State (Province)



Zip



This price effective 1978.

Order through your local church lay activities secretary or your Adventist Book Center.

KONG KONG

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CHAPELS.

LAMB SHELTERS

GOSHEN

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SECOMIOAHY

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Population

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ADVENTIST

Central Philippines



12,216,532

388

54,632

62,322

VOCATIONAL

East Indonesia



15,086,040

315

30,700 39,040

TRAINING

Japan



113,300,000

8,821

8,052

CENTER

Korea



34,728,608

298

34,187

34,008

North Philippines



28,195,748

700

68,101

79,738

South China Island



21,309,286

8,751

7,955

South Philippines



10,029,880

424

74,639

86,796

Southeast Asia



86,200,000

167

24,405

23,306

West Indonesia



117,355,485

317

30,464

43,831

Guam-Micronesia



200,000

1,066

1,057

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DIVISION TOTALS 438,621,579

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, 1977)

2,741

335,966

386,103

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